Review: 2 Lives

A Review

One Day In The Park With Matt

By R. J. Donovan

Life imitates art (or maybe the other way around) in "2 Lives," receiving its world premiere at Lyric Stage in partnership with the Huntington Theatre Company.

Written by theater icon Arthur Laurents and directed by Huntington Artistic Director Nicholas Martin, who we can happily call one of our own at the moment, the loosely autobiographical drama runs through April 12.

Taking place in the serenity of a small park created at a private residence, "2 Lives" focuses on legendary playwright Matt Singer and his partner of some 30 plus years, Howard Thompson. As Matt crafts his plays, Howard crafts their park. Howard plays an integral role in Matt's work as Matt insists on reading each new scene to him as its completed in longhand. In turn, Matt offers his view on each new element of the park.

Devoted to each other, the two men are hosting several guests including: Leo Kondracki, a rough around the edges stage and film producer set to mount Matt's latest work; Eloyse, Howard's elderly mother, who's sweetly perceptive despite traveling through various states of clarity; Nerissa Gray, an English stage star hoping to pitch a project of her own to the producer; and drama queen Willi Thurman, closeted longtime friend to all, even if her motives turn out to be suspect.

Completing the picture are Scooter, Howard's young landscape assistant, and his wife, Meryanne, a local caterer.

When Howard dies unexpectedly at the end of Act One, Matt's world is thrown into disarray in more ways than one. Consumed by his grief, he can't let go of his life partner personally or professionally. And so Howard remains a ghostly presence, even if only Matt can see him.

Life spirals out of control even further when Kondracki pulls out of Matt's play in favor of taking on Gray's project. He acknowleges doing it for the sake of financial gain, fully knowing the show itself is crap.

A good deal of the fertility in "2 Lives" lies in the cast. Venerable actor Tom Aldredge (above, left) is impassioned as Matt and James Sutorius (above, right) is nurturing and level headed as Howard. The strength and stability of their relationship is nicely established by the two actors from the moment the lights come up.

The delightful Elizabeth Wilson (above, center) is quite wonderful as Eloyse. Muddled in her reality, she slips through each scene, gently drifting into song when the mood strikes and flashing with frustration when she realizes just how much her mind fails her.

Susan Kellerman is a treat as the throaty Willi, dark glasses covering her "frog eyes" and never letting a wine glass go dry. She is especially funny in a scene with Matt and the now deceased Howard. Matt argues that Howard is standing with them, she flatly insists he isn't -- and then wants to know everything he's saying about her.

Cigdem Onat is Grey, the actress with an agenda. She has a lovely scene with Matt late in the second act debating a professional versus personal life. However it's a bit off-putting that the character who knows Matt the least is the one who has the heart-to-heart with him.

Jeremiah Kissel is in top form as the smarmy Kondracki whose projects are either successful or distinctive but not both. Michael Kaye is Scooter, who knows his good looks are a trade off for his lack of smarts. And Helen McElwain is Meryanne, who lends a lovely small town feistiness in dealing with the more urbane theater folk.

As theater and film fans know, Arthur Laurents' credits include everything from "Time of the Cuckoo" and "The Turning Point" to the books for such legendary musicals as "West Side Story " and "Gypsy" (which, coincidentally, is being revived on Broadway beginning the end of this month).

You might expect to see a new work by someone in Laurents' league premiere in New York, but the playwright has indicated in most interviews that he has little interest in dealing with the trappings of mounting a new show on Broadway these days.

In fact, in "2 Lives," the themes of commercial vs. artistic success and longing for the theater of days gone by are prominent. In that light, the script often serves more as a soap box than a window box.

While Laurents' pen cultivates dialogue that's sharp and characters that are comfortably real, the story itself comes off as somewhat dated. And while it is both different and refreshing to have the plot of a new play focus on the loving relationship of two older gay characters, not a lot of new ground is unearthed.

Finally, kudos to set designer James Noone who's used Lyric's intimate stage area to create a warm and inviting park, perfect for contemplation and picnics, even if the shag-carpet-for-grass is a curious color.

“2 Lives ” is at Lyric Stage, 140 Clarendon Street in Boston, through April 12. For information, call 617-437-7172.

Production photo: MaryAnn Zschau

-- OnStage Boston

3/19/03

			A Review One Day In The Park With Matt By R. J. Donovan Life imitates art (or maybe the other way around) in "2 Lives," receiving its world premiere at Lyric Stage in partnership with the Huntington Theatre Company. Written by theater icon Arthur Laurents and directed by Huntington Artistic Director Nicholas Martin, who we can happily call one of our own at the moment, the loosely autobiographical drama runs through April 12. Taking place in the serenity of a small park created at a private residence, "2 Lives" focuses on legendary playwright Matt Singer and his partner of some 30 plus years, Howard Thompson. As Matt crafts his plays, Howard crafts their park. Howard plays an integral role in Matt's work as Matt insists on reading each new scene to him as its completed in longhand. In turn, Matt offers his view on each new element of the park. Devoted to each other, the two men are hosting several guests including: Leo Kondracki, a rough around the edges stage and film producer set to mount Matt's latest work; Eloyse, Howard's elderly mother, who's sweetly perceptive despite traveling through various states of clarity; Nerissa Gray, an English stage star hoping to pitch a project of her own to the producer; and drama queen Willi Thurman, closeted longtime friend to all, even if her motives turn out to be suspect. Completing the picture are Scooter, Howard's young landscape assistant, and his wife, Meryanne, a local caterer. When Howard dies unexpectedly at the end of Act One, Matt's world is thrown into disarray in more ways than one. Consumed by his grief, he can't let go of his life partner personally or professionally. And so Howard remains a ghostly presence, even if only Matt can see him. Life spirals out of control even further when Kondracki pulls out of Matt's play in favor of taking on Gray's project. He acknowleges doing it for the sake of financial gain, fully knowing the show itself is crap. A good deal of the fertility in "2 Lives" lies in the cast. Venerable actor Tom Aldredge (above, left) is impassioned as Matt and James Sutorius (above, right) is nurturing and level headed as Howard. The strength and stability of their relationship is nicely established by the two actors from the moment the lights come up. The delightful Elizabeth Wilson (above, center) is quite wonderful as Eloyse. Muddled in her reality, she slips through each scene, gently drifting into song when the mood strikes and flashing with frustration when she realizes just how much her mind fails her. Susan Kellerman is a treat as the throaty Willi, dark glasses covering her "frog eyes" and never letting a wine glass go dry. She is especially funny in a scene with Matt and the now deceased Howard. Matt argues that Howard is standing with them, she flatly insists he isn't -- and then wants to know everything he's saying about her. Cigdem Onat is Grey, the actress with an agenda. She has a lovely scene with Matt late in the second act debating a professional versus personal life. However it's a bit off-putting that the character who knows Matt the least is the one who has the heart-to-heart with him. Jeremiah Kissel is in top form as the smarmy Kondracki whose projects are either successful or distinctive but not both. Michael Kaye is Scooter, who knows his good looks are a trade off for his lack of smarts. And Helen McElwain is Meryanne, who lends a lovely small town feistiness in dealing with the more urbane theater folk. As theater and film fans know, Arthur Laurents' credits include everything from "Time of the Cuckoo" and "The Turning Point" to the books for such legendary musicals as "West Side Story " and "Gypsy" (which, coincidentally, is being revived on Broadway beginning the end of this month). You might expect to see a new work by someone in Laurents' league premiere in New York, but the playwright has indicated in most interviews that he has little interest in dealing with the trappings of mounting a new show on Broadway these days. In fact, in "2 Lives," the themes of commercial vs. artistic success and longing for the theater of days gone by are prominent. In that light, the script often serves more as a soap box than a window box. While Laurents' pen cultivates dialogue that's sharp and characters that are comfortably real, the story itself comes off as somewhat dated. And while it is both different and refreshing to have the plot of a new play focus on the loving relationship of two older gay characters, not a lot of new ground is unearthed. Finally, kudos to set designer James Noone who's used Lyric's intimate stage area to create a warm and inviting park, perfect for contemplation and picnics, even if the shag-carpet-for-grass is a curious color. “2 Lives ” is at Lyric Stage, 140 Clarendon Street in Boston, through April 12. For information, call 617-437-7172. Production photo: MaryAnn Zschau -- OnStage Boston 3/19/03

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