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Julia Sweeney in The Family Way
by Les Gutman
|
I never thought my family would be The Sweeney Family. ---Julia Sweeney |
Julia Sweeney
(Photo: Carol Rosegg) |
Sweeney's life, it seems, is filled with predicaments. In her last show, God Said, Ha!, our review of which is linked below, the central subject was a serious one: her simultaneous confrontation with cancer as both patient and caregiver, and with her family. Having endured that battle (and then spending the better part of a year watching the Food Channel in a fetal position), her focus shifted to building a family of her own. It's a natural progression, peppered with a series of potential boyfriend/husband/fathers (all named Joe, and numbered sequentially), and ending in her decision to go it alone, for now at least, and begin the next generation solo.
In her late thirties, Sweeney flirted with the idea of having a baby of her own, but decided against it. (She was lacking not only a man in her life, she notes, but a uterus as well.) So she resolved to adopt; i.e., "giving up the love affair with [her own] DNA". This took her on some international travel, as she discovered the difficulties of adopting as an older single parent. Eventually, she figured out that for someone in her situation, "it's all about China".
And so to China she went, and eventually secured a little girl. Now all she needs is a man.
This show appears to be a work-out of new material that Ms. Sweeney would like to take on the road or perhaps to a larger venue in New York. As such, it's an opportunity to see a most enjoyable effort, in a small environment that's quite conducive to its structure. One should not go to see Family Way with an expectation of a significant work of theater (notwithstanding the involvement of Mark Brokaw, who certainly qualifies as a major director of theater). It's more in the nature of an extended stand-up routine. But anyone shying away from it for that reason will be missing something quite special.
LINKS
God Said, "Ha!"
| Julia Sweeney in The Family Way Written and performed by Julia Sweeney Directed by Mark Brokaw Set Design: Allen Moyer Lighting Design: Mary Louise Geiger Sound Design: Janet Kalas Original Music: Lewis Flinn Running time: 1 hour, 10 minutes with no intermission Ars Nova Theater, 511 West 54th Street (10/11 Avs.) Telephone: (212) 206-1515 WED - FRI @8, SAT @7; $20 Opening January 29, 2003, closing February 22, 2003 Reviewed by Les Gutman based on 1/23/03 performance |
At This Theater
Leonard Maltin's 2003 Movie and Video Guide
Ridiculous!The Theatrical Life & Times of Charles Ludlam
Somewhere For Me, a Biography of Richard Rodgers
The New York Times Book of Broadway: On the Aisle for the Unforgettable Plays of the Last Century
6, 500 Comparative Phrases including 800 Shakespearean Metaphors by CurtainUp's editor.
Click image to buy.
Go here for details and larger image.
