“Skin Tight” at 59E59 Theater C By Gary Henderson Directed by Nick Flint Reviewed by David Roberts Theatre Reviews Limited
Inspired by the iconic poem “The Magpies” by New Zealand poet Denis Glover, Gary Henderson’s “Skin Tight” leans heavily on the human heart as it rehearses the vicissitudes of human life, particularly the lives of Elizabeth and Tom who are preparing, perhaps in Tom’s memory, for the ultimate gift one human can give to another: preparing one’s lover‘s body for burial.
“Skin Tight” goes far beyond Glover’s poem about a couple whose farm goes into bankruptcy, the woman dies, and the man goes mad all to the tune of the song of the magpies. The counterpoint between the couple’s saga and the magpies’ recurring refrain is haunting and powerful. In “Skin Tight” Sarah-Jane Casey and Peter Saide give the poem’s Elizabeth and Tom (same names) a new dimension, a back story, and an engaging sixty-minute visual and visceral image of the relationship.
Ms. Casey and Mr. Saide wrestle, hug, battle, embrace, scream, and whisper their way through the past, present, and future of their relationship. Gary Henderson fills in the nooks and crannies of Glover’s poem with the rich details of Elizabeth and Tom’s life and love: they remember all “the little annoyances” that true love brings: their wedding, Tom’s absence during the war, Elizabeth’s affair, and their estranged daughter. The acting and the direction are simply brilliant and not to be missed.
Audience members can connect with this piece on many levels which is the hallmark of its success. I am not sure why the director (playwright) chooses to have an old Tom cross the stage at the end cutting an apple the way the young Tom did: this action is not necessary and for this critic detracts from the power of the work. Hopefully, it was not added to allow the actors time to robe before the curtain call. Just let the work be: these gifted and graced actors can make it work. Hopefully New York audiences will have the opportunity to see this beautiful work again in the near future.
SKIN TIGHT
By Gary Henderson. Directed by Nick Flint. The design team includes James Hunting (set design); Mike Riggs (lighting design); Christine Kahler (costume design); and Scott Fetterman (sound design). The play features an original score by Estelle Bajou. Natalie Lomonte (former dance captain for Broadway’s Spiderman) is the choreographer.
WITH: Sarah-Jane Casey (Elizabeth) and Peter Saide (Tom).
SKIN TIGHT run s for a limited engagement through Saturday, December 1. The performance schedule is Tuesday – Thursday at 7:30 PM; Friday and Saturday at 8:30 PM; Sunday at 3:30 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $25 ($17.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org.
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Friday, November 30, 2012
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