By Grant Golden
THE BASICS: Aaron Sorkin's 2007 drama about the race to invent television gets its regional premiere at the Kavinoky this month, playing weekends through May 31st. David Lamb directs a cast of fifteen (enormous by Buffalo standards!). The show runs about two hours, with one intermission.
THUMBNAIL SKETCH: Rivals David Sarnoff, the legendary mogul who invented NBC, and Philo Farnsworth, a self-taught boy genius from Idaho, star in and co-narrate this fascinating look at the birth of television. Did the driven and ruthless Sarnoff "steal" television from the hayseed Farnsworth? Well, it's complicated, and I don't want to give anything away. Let's just say that playwright Sorkin (A FEW GOOD MEN, THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, THE WEST WING) provides us with an energetic and surprisingly entertaining history lesson.
THE CAST: David Lamb's big cast is loaded with talent. Peter Palmisano is terrific as the steely Sarnoff, a rags-to-riches immigrant who cannot fully bury his remorse with rationalization. Christian Brandjes' Farnsworth is, for the most part, a nicely contrasting sunny presence. The character gains in scope, however, as personal misfortune and The Bottle begin to take their toll. I would have liked to see a little more of Farnsworth's dark side from Brandjes, but this is hardly a major flaw. Tom Owen, Dan Walker, John Warren and Tom Zindle are all very solid in support. Doug Weyand has a nice little turn as Young Farnsworth's grade school science teacher. Surprise of the night: David Lundy, an up-and-coming actor with a rubbery face and an obvious knack for comic caricature. Keep your eye on this guy. Pretty Eliza Maher seems a little forced in the role of Pem, Farnsworth's girlfriend/wife. Veterans Eileen Dugan and Kathy Weese are wasted in a number of thankless little roles.
PRODUCTION VALUES: David Lamb's sprightly direction gives an air of urgency and importance to the highly literate script. There are some very sharply executed ensemble passages here. David King's set is abstractly appealing, and there is a little razzle-dazzle lighting from Brian Cavanagh.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Sorkin plays to your
head, not your heart. Don't expect
to get emotionally involved. That
said, the Kavinoky production is nearly as good as you could wish, and brings
this odd little chapter of popular history most vividly to life.
Four Buffalos (out of five)
HERD OF BUFFALO (Notes on the rating system)
ONE BUFFALO: This means trouble. A dreadful play, a highly flawed production, or both. Unless
Recent Comments