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Modern Dance For Beginners
By Laura Hitchcock
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For someone so actively engaged in class warfare, you're a real snob. ---Owen
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Phelps lightens up on this theme in Scene Three when Frances spurns her lover Russell who wants more than just sex from their affair. Owen is the love of her life but in Scene Four we see that marriage hasn't solved his problems. He has had an anonymous sexual encounter with a young girl, Eleri, and, anxious to be out the door, delivers a monologue about his arid marriage and Eleri's striking resemblance to his lost love, presumably Frances. Eleri says absolutely nothing until the end of the scene at which point she declares "I felt a lump. " Owen offers to stay with her until a friend can come but she gently takes his hand and puts it down the front of his pants.
In Scene Five we learn from Lorraine, an oncologist, that she's treating a young man with a hopeless case of testicular cancer. Lorraine tells Skinner who accosts her in a bar that her name is Venetia. We learn they're game-playing and Skinner is the menacing boss of Russell and Frances. He says he had to fire a female executive that day and, when we hear she spat at him, we assume it's Frances. There's a poignant sixth scene that serves as a coda.
In this second production from the new and excellent V.S. Theatre Company, two actors play all the parts. Robyn Cohen displays her versatility particularly in the mute gentleness of Eleri after the anger and pain of Frances, the desperation of Julia and the frustrated game-playing of Lorraine. Phelps doesn't write men quite as well as women but Johnny Clark's conventional Owen is a completely different character from macho Keiran, eager Russell and overbearing Skinner.
Ross Kramer's direction emanates dance and creates fascinating choreography between the scenes as the lights dim and we watch the characters change into other costumes and rearrange the sparse tables that compose the set. Scenic designer John G. Williams uses stunning frosted glass sliding doors as a rear wall which moves and makes a transparent curtain for the actors. Renee Shimada's costumes are apt and exquisite.
Phelps dissects her people with a delicate scalpel and the way in which the six scenes tell the story of one doomed couple by displaying them in their most naked relationships cuts very close to the bone. Each scene could stand alone; the references to other characters are so subtle sometimes their names aren't even used. It's a stunning construction
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MODERN DANCE FOR BEGINNERS Playwright: Sarah Phelps Director: Ross Kramer Cast: Johnny Clark (Owen, Kieran, Russell and Skinner); Robyn Cohen (Frances, Julia, Eleri and Lorraine) Set Design: John G. Williams Lighting Design: Erin M. Hearne Costume Design: Renee Shimada Sound Design: Cricket S. Myers Running Time: 90 minutes, no intermission Running Dates: November 13-December 12, 2004 Where: Victory Theatre Center, 3324 W. Victory Blvd, Burbank. Phone: (323) 850-6045 Reviewed by Laura Hitchcock on November 13. |
Easy-on-the budget super gift for yourself and your musical loving friends. Tons of gorgeous pictures.
Retold by Tina Packer of Shakespeare & Co.
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Our Review
At This Theater
Leonard Maltin's 2005 Movie Guide
Ridiculous!The Theatrical Life & Times of Charles Ludlam
6, 500 Comparative Phrases including 800 Shakespearean Metaphors by CurtainUp's editor.
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