Cookies

Sunday, October 07, 2007

A Feminine Ending

****
Playwrights Horizons



What initially seems to establish itself as a light romantic comedy (Light romantic comedy? Playwrights Horizons?? Wha-?) slowly reveals a darker, less fanciful undercurrent that takes its audience on quite a different journey (Ah! Very good then. Carry on). With one part idealism and one part humor, playwright Sarah Treem offers up the story of a young female composer who is not only getting engaged but also stuck in the middle of her parent's mid-marriage crisis (Marsha Mason, as the antsy New Hampshire wifemom is hilarious). This play of non-traditional ideas snuck up on me in a very good way and I was thrilled to see the second female dramatist of the season so successfully arrive at the PH. Much to my enjoyment, the somewhat controversial moral of this deceptively calm, deceptively casual play now in previews ruffled the feathers of a number of the older matinee subscribers. One contingent marched out in a huff during the final scene, and another afterwards on 42nd and 9th announced "That was the most boring play I have ever seen!". Trust me, Sarah's play was far from boring.

No comments: