A
troubled young man who is cycling across America on a search to make sense of
his life, takes refuge at his grandmothers apartment in Manhattan.
Leo is a lost soul, unable to make peace with his
parents, dumped by his equivocating girlfriend and, worst of all, carrying the
weight of the tragic loss of his best friend on the road. At 3 a.m. he rings
grandma Vera’s doorbell where he hopes to at least find a nights rest. The
dynamic between them and the healing power of a loving spirit permeates this
life-enhancing story.
All of the actors are superb.
Michelle Rosen as Vera avoids any dear-old-lady cliché to show us a woman who has
lived fully but never succumbed to cynicism; Dan Fagan as Leo reveals his restless
spirit while showing his desperate inner struggle to embrace life in the face
of despair; Alexandra Johnston is poignant as Bec, his emotionally confused
girlfriend, and Zoe Kim is frustratingly delightful as Amanda, a pert teasing pick-up.
Plaudits to director Gail
Bernardi for the flawless pacing and sensitive interactions. The NYC
rent-controlled apt set by Jim Crawford and the costumes by Kathy Dershimer are
right on! Produced for the Kentwood players by Susan Goldman Weisbarth.
Author
Amy Herzog deservedly won an Obie Award and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for
this play when it premiered at Lincoln Center in 2011.
At Westchester Playhouse,
8301 Hindry Ave., L.A., through June.
Photos by Shari Barrett.
Also reviewed in the June
issue of NOT BORN YESTERDAY
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