Long Wharf's "Rocket to the Moon"
As an avowed Clifford Odets fan, I very much looked forward to Long Wharf's production of a great play oftentimes overlooked. Daniel Fish directs this stylish and period-accurate presentation but this play (albeit virtuous in some ways) is stuck within the late 1930s in claustrophobic mode. Hence, its universal message might be lost.
Andrew Lieberman's set, which depicts a suite of dental offices, is wonderfully inviting as it immediately transports theaterviewers to another era. It rotates every so slightly during the course of the nearly three hour running time. Complete with windows and frames, the scenic effect absolutely enhances the show. Problem: slightlines occasionally suffer as patrons might need to crane in order to catch full view of a performer.
Ben Stark (David Chandler), almost forty, is caught. His father-in-law, Mr. Prince (the superb David Margulies) wants to help the younger man move on up and expand the dental practice. Ben's wife, Belle (Christina Kirk), is satisfied with her husband's financial contribution. But, she correctly senses that Ben has eyes for his sweet, delectable, redhaired assistant Cleo Singer (a terrific Louisa Krause). In fact, pretty much every one of the male characters Odets offers has the same reaction to Cleo -- romancing her is the ultimate purpose.
Cleo symbolizes possibility at a time in when reality was dominant: it was tough to make a buck in New York City (locale for "Rocket"); and in Germany Hitler stripped Jewish physicians of licenses. Odets surrounds his pivotal personnel with essential supporting players. Phil Cooper (Andrew Weems) is a fellow dentist while Frenchy (Henry Stram) is a foot doctor down on his luck. Actor Danny Mastrogiorgio plays Willy Wax who, in the entertainment biz, promises he could do great things for Cleo.
Chandler is stilted as Ben Stark. The character is ridden with anxiety and Chandler makes that evident. But, I am not certain that he fully inhabits this character. The performance begs for fuller, less rigid interpretation.
Clifford Odets, the legendary drama critic and director (who knew and worked with Odets) said, "What crushes Odets' people - those who allow themselves to be crushed - is not simply the economic situation, the Depression, but the temper of the society as a whoile, of which the Depression of the thirties was only an episode, a wounding symptom. It is our humanity which is in constant danger of being destroyed. That has not changed; we are still under mortal pressure of every sort...."
We need a Ben Stark who is far more credibly emotive. Chandler, director Fish, or both men create a character who is internally torn asunder but who does not visibly wear his emotional toll. I believe that this actor (who has previously demonstrated range and talent on stage and screen) could adjust his current performance for the betterment of the Long Wharf production.
The show runs through Nov. 19th. www.longwharf.org; (800) 782-8497.
Andrew Lieberman's set, which depicts a suite of dental offices, is wonderfully inviting as it immediately transports theaterviewers to another era. It rotates every so slightly during the course of the nearly three hour running time. Complete with windows and frames, the scenic effect absolutely enhances the show. Problem: slightlines occasionally suffer as patrons might need to crane in order to catch full view of a performer.
Ben Stark (David Chandler), almost forty, is caught. His father-in-law, Mr. Prince (the superb David Margulies) wants to help the younger man move on up and expand the dental practice. Ben's wife, Belle (Christina Kirk), is satisfied with her husband's financial contribution. But, she correctly senses that Ben has eyes for his sweet, delectable, redhaired assistant Cleo Singer (a terrific Louisa Krause). In fact, pretty much every one of the male characters Odets offers has the same reaction to Cleo -- romancing her is the ultimate purpose.
Cleo symbolizes possibility at a time in when reality was dominant: it was tough to make a buck in New York City (locale for "Rocket"); and in Germany Hitler stripped Jewish physicians of licenses. Odets surrounds his pivotal personnel with essential supporting players. Phil Cooper (Andrew Weems) is a fellow dentist while Frenchy (Henry Stram) is a foot doctor down on his luck. Actor Danny Mastrogiorgio plays Willy Wax who, in the entertainment biz, promises he could do great things for Cleo.
Chandler is stilted as Ben Stark. The character is ridden with anxiety and Chandler makes that evident. But, I am not certain that he fully inhabits this character. The performance begs for fuller, less rigid interpretation.
Clifford Odets, the legendary drama critic and director (who knew and worked with Odets) said, "What crushes Odets' people - those who allow themselves to be crushed - is not simply the economic situation, the Depression, but the temper of the society as a whoile, of which the Depression of the thirties was only an episode, a wounding symptom. It is our humanity which is in constant danger of being destroyed. That has not changed; we are still under mortal pressure of every sort...."
We need a Ben Stark who is far more credibly emotive. Chandler, director Fish, or both men create a character who is internally torn asunder but who does not visibly wear his emotional toll. I believe that this actor (who has previously demonstrated range and talent on stage and screen) could adjust his current performance for the betterment of the Long Wharf production.
The show runs through Nov. 19th. www.longwharf.org; (800) 782-8497.
posted by Fred Sokol at 7:55 AM
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