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Usher Nonsense, Vol. 2, No. 9
RECKLESS – by Crag Lucas Directed by MARK BROKAW
with Olga Merediz, Debra Monk, Michael O’Keefe, Mary-Louise Parker, Rosie
Perez, Thomas Sadoski, Jeremy Shamos
Set Designer – Allen Moyer, Costume Designer – Michael Krass, Lighting Designer –
Christopher Akerlund
at the Manhattan Theatre Club – Biltmore – through December 19
I don’t know. I just don't. Everyone seems to be gaga over this play – it's extended through
December 19th. Maybe they are just happy to be seeing something that's not so bad at the
Biltmore.
This is the story of a wife whose husband takes out a contract on her. It's Christmas Eve, and
she is babbling on about its beauty and how excited her children are about this night – how
excited she is as well. At the last minute her husband confesses, shoves her out the window into
the night and saves her life. For the rest of the play she floats onward – never showing any sign
of interest in the children she left behind with someone who wanted her dead, nor any interest in
why her husband wanted to kill her. It's more like she was playing hooky from school than
running away from her family.
She is taken in by a couple, given a job, goes on a TV show and wins money to help them out,
lives there a year, until her husband comes back for her – and drops dead of poisoning. She
undergoes a lot of one on one therapy during this time, which is fairly hilarious. Then she's on
the road again ending up homeless until she becomes a shrink and goes to Alaska where she
meets her son in a therapy session. The end.
Somewhere in there, I am told, is a story. I never found it.
Mary-Louise Parker is nifty to watch. She is clearly enjoying herself, as are the other actors.
But she has the look of someone who could just as well leave the stage and float out the door. I
find that disconcerting. More appealing to me was the supporting cast who, as in a lot of other
productions these days, each played more than one role. This cuts down on the budget and
also gives the actors some meaty moments.
The reviews for this are nearly proclaiming it the second coming. For me there were some good
moments and a lot of warm cuddly wind blowing through the theatre. Enough to keep me
awake but not all that interested.
©2004 Tulis McCall