Theater in a Nutshell: Collected Stories

Review by Grant Golden

THE BASICS:  Donald Margulies' 1996 drama of a literary mentorship gone awry has been directed by Saul Elkin for the Jewish Repertory Theater, and plays weekends (no Fridays) through June 21st at the Road Less Traveled Theatre in the Market Arcade.  This two-character piece spans six years, and runs a little over two hours, with one intermission.

THUMBNAIL SKETCH:  Ruth Steiner, a well regarded, aging, short story writer and college professor, takes bubbly, apprehensive, hero-worshipping grad student Lisa Morrison under her wing.  It's a transformative relationship, and one that Ruth lives to regret.

THE CAST:  Veteran actress Roz Cramer returns to town to play the meaty lead role.  This is a very well judged dramatic performance, capturing a charismatic, mildly eccentric, multi-faceted literary type in the process of decline. It's almost impossible not to be affected by the ultimate turn of events; Ms Cramer will have you misty eyed, at the very least, by the close.   Kelly Jakiel, an up-and-coming, second generation Buffalo actor, does extremely well for herself here.  She too gets to show a lot of range, as she journeys from ultra-needy neophyte to poised and calculating young author.  If the character shows a curious lack of insight throughout, this cannot be laid at Ms Jakiel's feet; it is a problem in the writing.

PRODUCTION VALUES: Except for the opening minute or two of "shtick", which sets the wrong tone, Saul Elkin has sensitively directed the play, to fine effect.  The beautiful living room set, by Koscielniak and O'Donnell, is a huge plus, and there are a few nice costumes by Ann Emo. 

FINAL THOUGHTS:  Margulies' play is a poor man's ALL ABOUT EVE, but it is predicated on the intriguing concept of the Writer as Vampire.  I don't think that the final confrontation, as dramatically necessary as it is, would ever have taken place in real life.  Still and all, this is a strong evening of theater, and a nice finale to the JRT's 2008-9 season.

RATING:  FOUR BUFFALOS  (but I'm rounding up)

HERD OF BUFFALO (Notes on the Rating System)

 ONE BUFFALO:  This means trouble.   A dreadful play, a highly flawed production, or both.  Unless there is some really compelling reason for you to attend (i.e. you are the parent of someone who is in it), give this show a wide berth.

TWO BUFFALOS:  Passable, but no great shakes.  Either the production is pretty far off base, or the play itself is problematic.  Unless you are the sort of person who's happy just going to the theater, you might look around for something else.

THREE BUFFALOS:  I still have my issues, but this is a pretty darn good night at the theater.  If you don't go in with huge expectations, you will probably be pleased.

FOUR BUFFALOS:  Both the production and the play are of high caliber.  If the genre/content are up your alley, I would make a real effort to attend.

FIVE BUFFALOS:  Truly superb--a rare rating.  Comedies that leave you weak with laughter, dramas that really touch the heart.  Provided that this is the kind of show you like, you'd be a fool to miss it!