Review by Brian Pearson
The late playwright Terrence McNally’s play about a play, It’s Only a Play, was splendidly revived last Saturday evening at the Marilyn & Bob Laurie Gallery inside the Claverack Library. The excellent and capable cast, led by director Stephen Sanborn, brought laughter, surprise and a hint of Broadway glamour to the intimate space. Collectively, they provided an insider’s view of what actors, directors, playwrights, critics and even ushers experience during those nerve-racking moments between the opening of a Broadway show and its first reviews: fret, regret, ruminate, dream, bicker, drink, backstab, pray and hope.
Producer Julia Budder, played flawlessly by Constance Lopez, is hosting an opening night party at her Manhattan townhouse for her play, The Golden Egg. In her upstairs boudoir, emotions boil and tempers flare while a mix of Broadway veterans and newcomers anxiously await the first set of reviews. As those reviews begin to trickle in, the audience experiences a hysterical roller coaster of egos, dashed dreams, vendettas and blind ambition.
We see and feel that palpable but mystical thing that makes Broadway, Broadway: the love and devotion to theater by those who make it happen. What else but love and devotion would motivate any of these characters to expose themselves to such ongoing emotional risk for our benefit?
The cast, in addition to Constance Lopez, features Mark Leinung as playwright Peter Austin, Brian Yorck as theater critic Ira Drew, Bill Solley as drama-infused director Frank Finger, Jackie DiGorgis as The Golden Egg’s vampy star actor Virginia Noyes, Fred Sirois as the playwright’s loyal but conflicted best friend James Wicker, and Karissa Payson as the starry-eyed usher, Gus, all perform solidly and with great humor from start to finish.
It’s Only a Play serves not only as an homage to playwright Terrence McNally, but to theater itself.
Tickets ($20 for adults, $15 for Students & Seniors) for It’s Only a Play at the Claverack Library
are available for May 17th, 18th and 19th. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30pm and Sunday matinees are at 3pm at 629 NY-23B, Claverack, NY 12513, right on the corner of Rt. 23 & Rt. 9H.