“Untying Love” at TADA! Theater Written by Peggy A. Willens Directed by Emma Berry Reviewed by David Roberts Theatre Reviews Limited
Peggy Willens’ “Untying Love,” currently running at TADA! Theater, is more about the dynamics of family systems than it is about Carolyn’s death at a free-standing hospice facility. Indeed, the setting listed in the program (“in the kitchen of an American house”) might have served the characters and their conflicts better than a hospice facility. For this drama is a poignant recounting of what occurs when even one member of a family system undergoes self-initiated or event-initiated change.
Because I was on the professional team that developed the Hospice Program in a New York City suburb in the late 1980’s, I am completely familiar with the structure and operation of hospice care at home and in a free-standing facility. Ms. Willens provides the audience with the information they need to fully understand the setting of “Untying Love” and how the setting (time, place, mood) affect the grieving Chamberlain family.
Carolyn, the Chamberlain grandmother never seen in the play except through the eyes of her family, is dying of irreversible kidney disease and the end stage of her death has landed her in a hospice care facility. Her family, facing her imminent death, spins out of control as her anticipated death plays havoc with the Chamberlain family system. Each member of the family has to (unconsciously or consciously) scramble for a new place in the dynamic while the dysfunction of the family explodes as the position jockeying proceeds: who’s now the favorite; who’s the strongest; who’s the most respected; who’s the new scapegoat, etc.?
Jed Dickson is the son (Steven Chamberlain) who blames himself for his mother’s death because he was unable to convince her to accept one of his kidneys, a procedure that would have saved her life. He is jealous of his sister Cheryl and angry she has not arrived at the facility yet to bid her mother farewell. Mr. Dickson’s otherwise serviceable performance is marred by the laborious delivery of his lines: the first twenty minutes of the play are practically unbearable and Broadway veteran Nancy Hess as hospice volunteer Annie does her heroic best to move the pace of the opening scene along. In fact, despite the play’s important thematic strength, the pacing of the play needs attention by director Emma Berry. Currently the performance runs over 100 minutes and could easily be as effective at the 75 minute mark.
Despite the pacing, “Untying Love” and it’s committed ensemble cast provide authentic portrayals of a family caught in the early stages of bereavement. The actors work hard to enliven Ms. Willens’ script which often becomes more didactic than it needs to be. Again, the scenes that deal with authentic human conflict are the most effective. The audience learns more about the vicissitudes of life, death, and dying from actors plying their craft than from monologues about the stages of bereavement.
Special mention to Simon MacLean who brings authenticity to his character Chip who, as Steven’s brother, struggles to make sense of his son Davey’s (John Mateyko) rage and to celebrate his wife Pauline’s (Nancy Nagrant) ability to navigate the battlefield of his nuclear family. Nancy Hess and Rodrigo Lopresti make the lives of hospice volunteers both believable and understandable: Mr. Lopresti’s portrayal of Mark is touching, especially when he outlines the “four gifts” of saying good-bye. Marie Marshall and Kyla Schoer provide the audience with credible performances as Cheryl Chamberlain and Isabelle Chamberlain respectively.
As I left the theatre, I was offered tissues. This gesture confused me. Why would the creative team assume I would be crying? Audience members need the freedom to react to drama in their own unique way. Furthermore, there is a higher probability that an audience might shed tears if director Emma Berry rethinks her staging of “Untying Love” and addresses the current pacing of the performance.
UNTYING LOVE
“Untying Love” is presented by Opalescent Productions. Director: Emma Berry; Scenic Design: Tim McMath; Costume Designer: Kristine Koury; Lighting Designer: Lois Catanzaro; Fight Choreographer: Gael Schaefer; Stage Manager: Emily Bible; Casting Director: Jamibeth Margolis, CSA; Publicist: Paul Siebold.
WITH: Jed Dickson (Steven Chamberlain), Nancy Hess (Annie), Rodrigo Lopresti (Mark), Simon MacLean (Chip Chamberlain), Marie Marshall (Cheryl Chamberlain), John Mateyko (Davey Chambderlain), Nancy Nagrant (Pauline Chamberlain), and Kyla Schoer (Isabelle Chamberlain).
All performances of “Untying Love” at TADA! Theater, 15 West 28th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001. The performance schedule is October 13 – November 4, 2012: Thursday-Saturday at 8pm / Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $18, $15 for Students and Seniors. For ticket availability and purchase visit https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/34111 or call 866-811-4111. Running time: 100 minutes with no intermission.
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Saturday, October 20, 2012
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