Reviewed
by Will Stackman
Former
Brandeis graduate student (MFA, PhD) Theresa Rebeck's new play " Mauritius" is receiving a powerhouse
world premiere on the Huntington Theatre Co.s Wimberley stage at the BCA. The
script, developed at Lark Center in NYC, was read last spring during HTC's
Breaking Ground series. The script's since under gone further rewrites and is
being directed by Woolly Mammoth's Rebecca Bayla Taichman, who's continuing her
collaboration with Rebeck in a remounting of "The Scene" at Second
Stage in NYC. That show ran successfully at last year's Humana Festival. Rebeck
will also open another new play, "The Water's Edge" at Second Stage
later in the season, not to mention future commissions for Playwrights Horizons,
the Denver Theatre Center, and the Cincinnati Playhouse
"Mauritius"
is a modern melodrama with farcical overtones involving sibling rivalry and
stamp collecting. The latter obsession defines the plot complications, the
former provides character development. The excellent five actor ensemble
centers around wild child Jackie played by Obie winner Marin Ireland and prim Mary, her older
half-sister, played by Boston's favorite Canadian actress, Norton winner and
Brandeis MFA, Laura Latreille. Their struggle is over Mary's grandfather's stamp
collection which has been in their mother's possession since his death. Jackie
wants to sell, Mary claims sentimental attachment and rightful ownership, even
though she's not been around for a long time. Jackie, who took care of their
mother during her long decline due to cancer, has already started trying to
find out what the collection's worth.
The
album contains two legendary very early, almost priceless "error"
stamps from the British colony of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. She's met with
seeming indifference from seedy stamp dealer, Peter, played by Robert
Dorfman, who
appeared on Broadway as Zazu in :The Lion King." She's also been romanced
by slick young operator, Dennis, played by Off-Broadway actor Michael Aronov, who she meets at the stamp
shop. Dennis ultimately sets up a deal for her with a wealthy collector,
belligerent Sterling, a shady Brit played by James Gale, who's acted both in NYC and
London. And that's just the start of the plot.
While
the show is predicated on past relations between Jackie and Mary leading to
their present situation, between hanger-on Dennis and slothful Peter--which
seems somehow paternal--and some sort of prior incident between Peter and
Sterling, the play, like most melodramas is about present actions. The ensemble
does almost seem like a tight dysfunctional family however, given to extended
monologues, simultaneous arguments at cross-purposes, and devious often
farcical personal confrontations. Jackie is the primary focus but Mary comes on
strong in the pinch. Dennis is less a villain than a trickster, looking for
excitement in the main chance. Further tweaking, when the show finds a future
production, should heighten the intrigue.
As
usual HTC hasn't stinted on production values. Trinity's Eugene Lee, whose last Obie was for
"Wicked," who got an IRNE for "Top Dog..." has created a
very detailed shabby office as the main scene, with wagons that come out of the
walls for alternate locations. Costumes chosen by peripetatic Miranda Hoffman and jarring original music by Martin
Desjardins add
unique touches. The script may undergo further development to tie up loose
ends, especially at the very end, but is a crackling show at the moment.