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A CurtainUp Review
A CurtainUp Review
The Argument and Dinner Party
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. . .Notes are struck of spiritual anguish, unassuageable longing, and shame. --Aristotle, The Argument
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David Greenspan in The Argument
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The Argument is the continuation of Target Margin's season of new adaptations of the Greeks, and it's paired with another one-act, Dinner Party, based on Plato's Symposium. Greenspan reflective, almost elegiac tone of Poetics applies to the whole evening
Though Greenspan's deep affinity for the work comes through in his movement-based performance his ability to make it come alive is limited. No amount of gesturing will turn the monologue into edge-of-your-seat excitement. But then again, that's not really the point.
Dinner Party is a philosophical dialogue on the nature of love. It's a series of speeches given at—you guessed it—a dinner party. All of us have attended parties at which the hosts and/or guests have too much good wine and wax poetic (usually about the wine). Here the host challenges each guest to give a speech about the nature of love. And so, the actors (whose characters have the same first names) deliver a variety of observations. Some sound as if they've been translated directly from the ancient Greek, others are much more contemporary. They drink, talk, listen to music, and interact with each other in some very familiar and funny ways. Greenspan appears again, in an almost deus es machina fashion. Stephanie Weeks and Mary Neufeld are standouts in the small ensemble.
The set design (by Sarah Edkins) is a hodge-podge of old furniture, beads, art, bowls, stairs, all dominated by a giant oil painting. It's like a yard sale come to life, but it fits the show very well. Like the script, the set blends old and new in a really invigorating way.
If concept of the Greeks re-examined sounds too deep and philosophical for an easily enjoyable evening of theater, surprise yourself. Go see Target Margin make these two pieces add up to a poignant examination on life, love, art, and history.
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The Argument and Dinner Party The Argument written and performed by David Greenspan, based on Aristotle's Poetics Dinner Party by David Herskovitz, based on Plato's Symposium Directed by David Herskovitz Cast of Dinner Party: David Greenspan, Han Nah Kim, Diana Konopka, Mary Neufeld, Steven Rattazzi, Greig Sargeant, Stephanie Weeks, and Ian Wen Costume Design: Asta Bennie Hotstetter Lighting Design: Lenore Doxsee Scenic Design: Sarah Edkins Sound Design: Jane Shaw Running Time: Two hours, with one fifteen-minute intermission Target Margin Theater at The Kitchen, 512 West 19th Street; 212-255-5793 x 11 06/16/07 TO 6/30/07 Tickets $15; Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm Reviewed by Jenny Sandman based on June 16th performance |
Try onlineseats.com for great seats to
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Wicked
Jersey Boys
The Little Mermaid
Lion King
Shrek The Musical
Easy-on-the budget super gift for yourself and your musical loving friends. Tons of gorgeous pictures.
Leonard Maltin's 2007 Movie Guide
At This Theater
Leonard Maltin's 2005 Movie Guide
>