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‘Boston Marriage’ cast tackles adversity well
By STEPHANIE OTTEY
YOUNGSTOWN
In the theater world, a lot can happen in one week. Directors, casts and crews need to be ready for anything, good or bad, as they approach the opening of a show. Still, despite much preparation, some hurdles are unpredictable.
In the week before the opening of “Boston Marriage” at the Youngstown Playhouse, director Anthony Ruggiero and his team faced one of the biggest hurdles to confront a production: the loss of the lead actress.
About 10 days before opening Friday night, the cast of David Mamet’s “Boston Marriage” was missing an actress to portray the challenging lead of Anna. With no understudies cast as back-up, the production was in jeopardy until the show’s dramaturge Marjorie Rapp stepped in to undertake the role.
On opening night director Ruggiero made the choice to allow Rapp to carry a script on stage, but the actress delivers such a strong performance that it was barely noticeable. Rapp carries herself and her character in a proud, graceful way that belies her newness in playing the character. The book in hand did little to impede her performance. Rapp impressively maintains the ability to connect with other actors on stage while subtly glancing to the script.
She effortlessly delivers the complicated Mamet dialogue without a hint of uncertainty.
Fans of Mamet’s work will understand what a challenge that can be. The playwright is known for writing word-heavy dialogue, resting his success on voice and character development more than plot or action. “Boston Marriage” is no exception.
Set in the Victorian era, “Boston Marriage” adopts a classical tone despite having premiered in 1999. Mamet’s phrasings are unique, crisp and exact, so that poor communication or forgotten lines could ruin a production. Successful communication of dialogue is critical.
For those unfamiliar with the script, “Boston Marriage” focuses on a unique relationship between two women: Anna and Claire. While their relationship remains elusively undefined, it’s quite clear that their dedication to each other exceeds that of a typical companionship. The women live together as a pair, creating a thick barrier of a cocoon around themselves that is difficult to penetrate. They are pious and condescending to those around them, and flirtatious and catty with each other. These traits alienate them from most, and are factors in their dedication to each other as well.
The play begins as Claire, played beautifully by Lauren Wenick, returns home from a trip abroad. She arrives to learn that Anna has found favor in the eyes of a wealthy man who has gifted her with a beautiful necklace. Anna assures Claire that she has no romantic inclination towards the gentleman, but simply sees him as a protector of sorts, someone to provide some financial stability.
Claire responds by surprising Anna with her own news: She has fallen in love with a young woman whom she met through her travels. Clearly jealous of each other, the two spat in a deliciously catty fashion until Claire asks Anna to allow her young love to move in with them. After much debate, at the end of Act 1 Anna surprisingly agrees. The second act of the show brings about a twist and a turn that resolve in a not-so-surprising ending.
Rapp and Wenick have a chilling and intruiging chemistry on stage, seducing and stabbing each other smoothly. While Rapp commands the stage, acting as a viper circling her prey, Wenick is a delicate but knowing pawn and a lovely contrast to her counterpart.
Jill Cataldi provides a flow of comic relief as Catherine, the couple’s maid. The character is written flawlessly, and Cataldi’s deadpan delivery of the simple maid’s lines evokes a particularly heartfelt laugh time and time again.
Regardless of how it came to be, on opening night, Ruggiero offered a well-cast show and made a smart choice in handling a tricky situation.
His efforts combined with the skills of his cast prove that very much, indeed, can happen in one week. No doubt, audiences seeing the show one week from opening night will be even more delighted.
‘Boston Marriage’ runs at the Youngstown Playhouse through Saturday. Performances are at 7:30 p.m.; there are no matinees. The Playhouse is located at 600 Playhouse Lane off Glenwood Avenue in Youngstown. For ticket information call 330-788-8739.