Wit

More |

Wit Actors Co-op at the CrossleyTerrace Theatre Reviewed by Madeleine Shaner March 10, 2010 Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize–winning play has had several outings in Southern California, but instead of seeming superfluous, Nan McNamara's spectacular performance as the austere Vivian Bearing, Ph.D., professor of 17th-century poetry, stricken with "insidious cancer…with pernicious side effects," provides a completely engaging drama, as well as a bold interpretation of the human comedy that co-exists in a life well lived—or a play expertly staged. Combined with Marianne Savell's trusting, intelligent, and enhancing direction, a charmed cast drawing every particle of depth and humor from the sometimes difficult but always edifying text overcomes an audience's natural anxiety of approaching this dread subject with fear, loathing, and depressed nerve endings. McNamara and Savelle are securely in touch with their art and keenly aware of the pathway to expressing it. Essentially strong ensemble casting makes this a play that nourishes and stays in the heart and mind. As the willing but slightly goofy nurse in charge of Dr. Bearing's care, Tawny Mertes seems authentic enough to transfer to any major hospital tomorrow. Daniel J. Roberts as the research fellow in charge is as fierce as a young lion can be, especially in battle with an old tiger, whose literature course he had reluctantly attended during premed. Phil Crowley is convincingly conservative as the physician. "Wit" is about death. It's also about life, spirituality, language, the poetry of John Donne, control, humanity, compassion and lack of it when administered institutionally, and, yes, cancer. The intelligent humor, as ill-placed as it may seem, triumphs over them all. The highly intellectual, nonetheless stirring, lexicon of the text is well-balanced with the seemingly out-of-place laughter it inspires in its audience—translating as humor despite itself. Presented by Actors Co-op at the Crossley Terrace Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St., Hollywood. Feb. 19–March 28. Fri.–Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m. (323) 462-8460, ext. 300. www.actorsco-op.org.

More \| Tweet