Usher Nonsense #39 – Sarah, Sarah
SARAH, SARAH - By Daniel Goldfarb, Directed by Mark Nelson
With Andrew Katz, Richard Masur, Lori Prince, J. Smith-Cameron
Well, Manhattan Theatre Club FINALLY has a show worth the time and effort you
spend to get there. Daniile Goldfarb has created an enormous family mythology that
links four generations - starting out in Russia (or Poland, depending on your bias),
heading west and then west once more, ending up in China to adopt an orphan. The
story is given to us by a fine cast, each playing different characters in the first and
second act, that doesn't shrink from letting their characters make fools of themselves
or shine like gemstones.
In some ways, however, Goldfarb has created two one acts. The first is set in the
1940's, and the stakes are high as a young man (Katz) comes to the crossroad of
career, marriage to his fiance (Prince), and his mother's (Smith-Cameron) heritage.
The first act also benefits from a rich, hilarious and ultimately tender realtionship
between the mother and her cleaning man (Masur), who becomes the catalyst for the
crossroads. The second act brings us to China with Masur as the grown son, Smith-
Cameron as his daughter about to adopt a baby, and Katz and Prince as a bizarre
adoptive couple who only mean to help....
While Goldfarb wants us to know that we are seeing the same family in the second
act by making a few references here and there, the two acts don't feel connected.
While the relationship between Masur and Smith Cameron is a pleasure to watch, and
the support from Katz and Prince is truly excellent, I felt that they all could have been
better served if Mr. Goldfarb had taken the same risks in the second act as he surely
did in the first. Goldfarb has an ear for secrets, shame, and deep sloppy love as well
as the lunatic ways we wear ourselves in the world. The first act was so engaging
that I forgot where I was. In the second act I forgot where the characters were.
I
n the first act Goldfarb makes us open wide and swallow. In the second act he lets
us take little sips. In the end though, this is our mother, our children, and our life
choices served up as a meal worth chewing over.
©2004 Tulis McCall
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