CurtainUp
CurtainUp

The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features, Annotated Listings
www.curtainup.com


HOME PAGE

SITE GUIDE

REVIEWS

FEATURES

NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings


LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway

NYC Restaurants

BOOKS and CDs

OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
California
DC
Philadelphia
Elsewhere

QUOTES

On TKTS

PLAYWRIGHTS' ALBUMS

LETTERS TO EDITOR

FILM

LINKS

MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
Writing for Us


Globe Valves,China valve, valve Manufacturer, valve supplier, link check valves, ball valves, Butterfly Valves,valves Butterfly valves 2011.06.05, Gate valves, Ball Valves,Gate Valves,Check Valves Plug Valvesglobe valves, butterfly valves, Zhejiang sedelon valve co.,ltd.
valve factory,valve corporation,valve company China Valve manufacturer and Supplier
SEARCH
A CurtainUp Review
Relativity


Watching Cassandra Medley's Relativity, I was reminded of Michael Frayn's Copenhagen, for the two plays, while in most respects radically different, share an intense appreciation rarely seen in the theater: the impact of science on our lives. While Frayn's concern is atomic physics, Medley's is the interaction between racial politics and genetic research, with particular focus on the controversial idea that higher concentrations of melanin in the genetic makeup of people of color make them mentally, physically, and spiritually superior.

At the core of this extremely passionate and voluble play is an endangered mother-daughter relationship. The mother, Claire, has been on the melanin bandwagon for years, while her daughter, Kalima, in her own fledgling career as a cutting-edge molecular scientist, finds herself in increasingly in opposition to Claire's scientifically questionable views. Kalima has been unable to reveal this difference of perspective to her mother, however, and as her professional life progresses, the pressure mounts to reveal herself to Claire.

Much of the production unfortunately is imbued with an exasperatingly bombastic tone, and the stage often is filled with a clutter of sound -- including shouting, speechifying, sleek put-downs, and even recorded audience response to accent the ambience of public forums and speeches. At times the direction is so over-the-top that one wonders if the text is meant as a satire rather than the "explosive drama" announced to the press.

While racism deservedly remains an eternally valid topic, and an exploration of conflicting social attitudes even within racial minorities sometimes sheds new light on the larger issue (Dael Orlandersmith's Yellowman produced at Manhattan Theater Club a few years ago and a Pulitzer Prize runner-up, was an excellent example of this), Relativity unfortunately is an over-stirred pot with several too many ingredients. Conflicts involving loyalty and racism within familial, professional, and romantic relationships all struggle for attention on the tiny Ensemble Studio stage.

In spite of a script which feels overburdened to this critic, a recalibration of the acting and directing might provide significant improvement towards achieving writer Medley's substantial goals. As the central character Kalima, Melanie Nicholls-King's cautious and understated performance is no match for her powerhouse widowed mother Claire as forcefully played by Elaine Graham. As a result, the seemingly-intended balance in the Shavian-inspired arguments posed by Ms. Medley is totally absent; worse, the production largely sacrifices sympathy for both of these central characters.

The other three persons on stage unfortunately are little more than cartoons, although Kim Sullivan, Anthony Crane and Petronia Paley all do valiant work under the circumstances. Like protagonist Kalima (and the audience by extension), they all are "caught in the middle" of an emotional argument with no sane solution offered. If the play's focus can shift earlier to what in Medley's final line projects a future in which we "one day [will be] growing our own hearts," this ambitious work might expand its resonance considerably.

Editor's Note: For an annotated list to other science related plays reviewed at CurtainUp go here.

Relativity
Playwright: Cassandra Medley
Directed by Talvin Wilks
Cast: Tony Crane, Elain Graham, Melanie Nicholls-King, Petronia Paley, and Kim Sullivan.
Costume Design: Clint Ramos
Scenic and Lighting Design: Maruti Evans
Sound Design: Graham Johnson
Multi-Media Designer: Maya Ciarrocchi
Running Time: Two hours, ten minutes including intermission
At the Ensemble Studio Theater, 549 West 52nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues) From 4/30/06 to 5/14/06; opening 4/30/06
Tuesday through Saturday at 8:00; weekend matinees on May 6, 13, and 14. Also May 7 @ 7
Viewed on Sunday, April 30, 2006 by Brad Bradley
Stage Plays
The Internet Theatre Bookshop "Virtually Every Play in the World" --even out of print plays


Playbill Broadway Year Book
The new annual to dress up every Broadway lover's coffee table



broadway musicals: the 101 greatest shows of all time
Easy-on-the budget super gift for yourself and your musical loving friends. Tons of gorgeous pictures.



Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide
Leonard Maltin's 2006 Movie Guide



tales from shakespeare
Retold by Tina Packer of Shakespeare & Co.
Click image to buy.
Our Review





Leonard Maltin's 2005 Movie Guide



Ridiculous! The Theatrical Life and Times of Charles Ludlam
Ridiculous!The Theatrical Life & Times of Charles Ludlam



metaphors dictionary cover
6, 500 Comparative Phrases including 800 Shakespearean Metaphors by our editor.
Click image to buy.
Go here for details and larger image.



broadwaynewyork.com



The Broadway Theatre Archive



amazon



©Copyright 2006, Elyse Sommer.
Information from this site may not be reproduced in print or online without specific permission from esommer@curtainup.com