THE BASICS: This romantic comedy by Richard Alfieri follows the time-honored formula of opposites attracting, but not in the way you might expect. For the second year O’Connell & Company is in residence at the Park School of Buffalo on Harlem Road. Through October 19th Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30, Sundays at 2:30, the show runs less than two hours with one intermission.
THUMBNAIL SKETCH: An elderly wife of a minister has hired a dance instructor to come to her expensive high rise Florida apartment for six dance lessons over six weeks. Fairly quickly his attitude and inability to filter his comments has her on the phone to the dance studio to get him fired. But, over time they both realize that they are more alike than different. Both have been hurt deeply, both have lived lives of quiet desperation, and both are ready to lie at the drop of a hat rather than admit the truth to themselves or others. And both need to press on with life, but need some encouragement, well, a lot of encouragement, to do just that. The play is organized into seven short acts (six lessons plus a bonus) with a fade to black after each allowing time to slightly reset a few props, but more importantly letting the two (and only two) onstage characters change clothes for “next week’s” lesson.
THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION: This play works extremely well with one set and only two actors. The celebrated Anne Gayley plays Lily Harrison, a somewhat formal and formidable Baptist minister’s wife, and Gregory Gjurich, who although straight, effectively plays the gay, transported New Yorker who is her instructor, Michael Minetti.
I must say that everyone in Buffalo has been talking as if this were a one-woman show, and while it’s great to see Anne Gayley again and she is excellent, I’m disappointed that people aren’t talking more about Gregory Gjurich, who has also been in Buffalo theater a while. He reminded me of Robin Williams at his best and I told him so at the Thursday night “talk back” with the actors. I asked how he was able to play gay so believably without a hint of hyperbole or stereotypical behavior. Gjurich gave full credit to the director Javier Bustillos who said that he didn’t want another “Will and Grace” on his hands.
Every scene (four before intermission, three after) ends with Lily and Michael dancing, in order – The Swing, The Tango, The Viennese Waltz, The Fox Trot, The Cha-Cha, Contemporary Dance, and the “Bonus Lesson” before the fade. And every scene begins with Michael describing exactly what sexual delight each dance was invented to provide to the couple.
Both actors gave props to Choreographer Joey Bucheker, Lighting Technician Corina DeFabbio for timing those fades just right, Lisa Marie Leone, Properties/Set Artist/Dresser and Pamela Snyder, Wardrobe who came up with stunning outfits on a very tight budget!
The theater at The Park School is small but adequate with comfortable chairs arranged on bleacher like risers so that the sight lines are perfect. This is the new location for the every-other-Wednesday “Diva by Diva” so by now I’m sure that most people can find it on the suburban campus.
*HERD OF BUFFALO (Notes on the Rating System)
ONE BUFFALO: This means trouble. A dreadful play, a highly flawed production, or both. Unless there is some really compelling reason for you to attend (i.e. you are the parent of someone who is in it), give this show a wide berth.
TWO BUFFALOS: Passable, but no great shakes. Either the production is pretty far off base, or the play itself is problematic. Unless you are the sort of person who’s happy just going to the theater, you might look around for something else.
THREE BUFFALOS: I still have my issues, but this is a pretty darn good night at the theater. If you don’t go in with huge expectations, you will probably be pleased.
FOUR BUFFALOS: Both the production and the play are of high caliber. If the genre/content are up your alley, I would make a real effort to attend.
FIVE BUFFALOS: Truly superb–a rare rating. Comedies that leave you weak with laughter, dramas that really touch the heart. Provided that this is the kind of show you like, you’d be a fool to miss it!