IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK // A THEATRE REVIEW OF "THE ARCHITECTURE OF BECOMING"

BY MATEO MORENO

Deep within the walls of New York’s famous theatre’s lie many secrets and untold stories.  The New York City Center, current home to “Women’s Project,” is no different.  Show after show has performed within these walls and now their latest, THE ARCHITECTURE OF BECOMING, aims to tell a few of those tales via four somewhat interconnected stories.  With the help of three directors and five writers, the play sets off into motion.  Claudia Acosta begins the proceedings as Siempre Norteada, a young writer who stumbles into the City Center theatre and “asks” the ghost of the past to let her hear the stories within these walls.  As she does a ghost from the past appears (Danielle Skraastad in her first of several appearances) and tells her that it’s unusual that people can hear her so she’ll tell her some tales.  And we’re off to the races with story one, set in 1936 involving a secret club and a secret between lovers.  The second tale digs into the tale of a Japanese couple and her desire to be an actress, but only playing herself.  The third is 1977 and showcases a young African American kid who wants to release an opera ghost.  The fourth and final story tells what happens to Norteada after she leaves the theatre.  The connecting line is all of the tales have to do with that building and how it’s changed throughout the years.

To say the least, The Architecture of Being is one of the most ambitious plays Women’s Project have attempted (at least since I’ve been attending them).  Being so ambitious, it doesn’t all land where you want it to, however when it does it shines and sings.  Danielle Skraastad is outstanding in each of her roles (my particular favorites being the characters from story one and two).  As Virginia Jackson, she becomes the heartbeat of the story, along with Vanessa Kai, who’s dreams and inner thoughts are spoken only through an old speaker she carries (an incredibly beautiful choice).  Christopher Livingston knocks it out of the park with his character in the 1977 era story, a young man needing to know if there really is a ghost behind these walls or if he’s crazy like everyone says.  His tender soul shines through and grips you till the end.  Much of the stories I don’t want to give away, but I will say what doesn’t work is the framework of the Grande  Dame Ghost and young writer Norteada.  A set up doesn’t exist for the scene and the entire piecing of it is unneeded.  Her proceeding story, told after the three stellar middle ones, is also the least interesting and seems to almost end three or four times.  Directors Elena Araoz, Lydia Fort, and Lauren Keating set up some very inventive and interestingly structured moments.  Had the playwrights trusted the strength of the three choices and left out the framework story, The Architecture of Becoming would have really sailed.  With it, it feels like a play that hasn’t quite become itself yet.

MATEO’S GRADE: B-

Directed by: Elena Araoz, Lydia Fort, Lauren Keating  Written By: Kara Lee Corthron, Sarah Gancher, Virginia Grise, Dipika Guha, Lauren Yee  Starring: Claudia Acosta, Vanessa Kai, Christopher Livingston, Jon Norman Schneider, Danielle Skraatad

Content Advisory: Language

BOTTOM LINE:  Challenging and inventive, yet not all of the puzzle pieces fit.  Still an intriguing night of theatre.

TO THE BATTLEFIELD AGAIN // A THEATRE REVIEW OF "ROW AFTER ROW"

BY MATEO MORENO

Every year at Gettysburg, thousands of actors gather in full on 1863 military replica uniforms and re-enact the battle of Gettysburg for their enjoyment.  It has become many people's way of life, something they look forward to each and every year.  What drives them to do this, re-enacting a terrible battle that happened so many years ago?  Writer Jessica Dickey (The Amish Project) explores those notions compellingly in the new play ROW AFTER ROW, currently playing at Women's Project.

Tom (Erik Lochtefeld) and Cal (PJ Sosko) are two lifelong buddies who gather every year at the Gettysburg re-enactment.  This year, as always, they head to their favorite table at their favorite bar to unwind after the battle but someone unfamiliar sits at their table.  Her name is Leah (Rosie Benton) who also just participated in the re-enactment.  Cal is immediately angered at the sight of Leah.  Not only is she at "their" table but she's not wearing the correct uniform, has a nosering, and is (worst of all) a woman trying to play soldier in a Man's battle.  Cal is a stickler for authenticity and immediately begins to grill Leah, and so begins a sparring between the three in topics that range from the accuracy of re-anactments to men/women politics, their own personal histories, and their own standstill presents.

Dickey, along with Director Daniella Topol, have crafted a real fine piece of work here.  The dialogue is crisp and zings right along and the direction, which switches from present day to the Civil War re-enactment, is beautifully done.  Dickey has a true flair for comedy, as the modern scenes show, and even if the re-enactments slow down a bit, it doesn't pull the show off course; it chugs along like lighting often with their three person rat-a-tat-tat and then stops to catch its breath with beautiful dramatic moments in the fields of Gettysburg.  Playing Leah, Rosie Benton (recently of Broadway's StickFly) is truly wonderful.  Her comic timing is superb and she truly brings you inside the conflicting emotions of this young woman who stuck her finger on a map and ended up in Gettysburg.  PJ Sosko is just as dynamic, strattling the line of jerk and lost soul perfectly.  You want him to open up just as much as you want him to shape up.  Rounding out the cast with a gentle soul and soft heart is Erik Lochtefeld.  His Tom is kind and unsure, and Lochtefeld showcases his emotional journey of deserter to somewhere beyond with grace and care.

Women's Project (now located at NY City Center) had a very strong season the last two years (Allison Moore's Collapse being the only true misfire) and starts of 2014 with even more strength.  If Row After Row is an example of what's to come this year, consider me hooked.  Both to Women's Project's upcoming season AND the lovely work of Ms. Dickey.

Written By Jessica Dickey Directed By Daniella Topol Starring Rosie benton, Erik Lochtefeld, PJ Sosko  Closes on  February 16th at Women's Project located at NY City Center Stage II (131 West 55th Street, NYC)

Mateo’s Grade: A

Bottom Line: Engrossing, laugh out loud funny, and touching, Row After Row is truly a pleasant surprise for a cold winter evening.