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Usher Nonsense, Vol. 2 No. 25
BROOKLYN BOY by Donald Margulies, directed by Daniel Sullivan (Sight Unseen, Intimate
Apparel)
With Adam Arkin, Polly Draper, Ari Graynor, Arye Gross, Kevin Isola, Mimi Lieber and
Allan Miller.
Ralph Funicello (sets), Jess Goldstein (costumes), Chris Parry (lighting) and Michael Roth
(music and sound).
Manhattan Theatre Club at the Biltmore, co-produced with South Coast Repertory
through March 27
This is the first time in a long time that I remember leaving the theatre, thinking “I’d like to stick
around this character’s life and see what happens.” From the very first scene this play takes us in
its arms and says – this will not be an easy journey, but you will be safe.
Eric Weiss(Adam Arkin) makes his way from his dying father, back to his roots with a high school
chum, down into the hollow bowels of his marriage, out to the even more hollow tunnels of Los
Angeles and back to his empty family house. He does this through meeting one other character at a
time. He is dogged, and thorough, funny and short tempered, clumsy and honest.
Being a solitary – as in unattached and living alone – person myself I saw how much of my life
goes this way – with one person at a time. Like tag team wrestling. I keep getting handed off to
one person after another. Like stepping off a merry go round and then back on again. So for me,
this was a poignant and touching journey. But I suspect that it may be for any one of a number of
viewers as well.
This production has a center and a flow to it, like other productions directed by Sullivan. His
actors look like they have all been taken good care of and can now do the same for you. It’s a
work that breathes along with you. It pulls you in and opens you up without you noticing until you
are pierced in a place that makes you respond, “Me, too. Me too.”
Bravo.
©2005 Tulis McCall