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Convincing performances lift ‘Six Dance Lessons’
IF YOU GO
What: “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks”
Where: The Youngstown Playhouse
When: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: Call 330-788-8739, or go to the-youngstownplayhouse.com
By LORRAINE WARDLE
YOUNGSTOWN
“Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks,” a new comedy by Richard Alfieri, opened Friday at the Youngstown Playhouse in the theater’s intimate Moyer Room as part of the Griffith-Adler Actor Series.
The play, directed by Terri A. Wilkes, is about two people who don’t want to admit that — as Streisand sang — they need people.
Lily Harrison and Michael Minetti meet under somewhat odd circumstances: She has hired him to give her private dance lessons in her Florida condo. Unfortunately, the two almost literally get off on the wrong foot.
Lily is the wife of a retired Southern Baptist minister, and Michael is a gay dance instructor. Each makes assumptions and develops preconceived notions about the other. The two have more in common than they realize, and through their weeks of dance lessons, they become friends.
“Six Dance Lessons” tells a sweet story, without becoming preachy or heavy-handed. The characters are realistic and the script is full of quick, clever dialog.
Molly Galano and Bernie Appugliese are two of the area’s finest actors, with hundreds of plays between them. Their experience is obvious as they are completely at home on the stage. Their interaction was natural and their dancing was impressive.
Appugliese was great as the dance instructor who speaks his mind. His Michael was both fearless and vulnerable. Galano is not as old as her character, but she played Lily with a convincing physicality — a layered, complex personality.
Through the work of Wilkes, Galano and Appugliese, Lily and Michael become realistic, very real people. Their story is both relatable and special, and full of hope.
“Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks” continues Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m at the Youngstown Playhouse. For tickets, call 330-788-8739, or go to theyoungstownplayhouse.com.