“Milk for Mrs. Stone” at the New York International Fringe Festival at the Robert Moss Theater
“Milk for Mrs. Stone” at the New York International Fringe Festival at the Robert Moss Theater Written by Charles Gershman Directed by Eli Taylor Reviewed by Joseph Verlezza Theatre Reviews Limited
“Milk for Mrs. Stone” a new play by Charles Gershman reaches to examine the behavior exemplified when a family already plagued with dysfunction is faced with an unfortunate emergency crisis. It is a battle between conservative social and political identity and authentic personal feelings and familial responsibility. The script, although striving for resolution, never really comes to terms with the problematic core. Too many extraneous conflicts and situations prohibit a focus and certainly serve no purpose in moving the plot forward.
At the center of the action is Mrs. Stone who is left physically disabled from a stroke after her husband dies and has severe speech problems. She lives alone with the exception of her live-in caregiver, who apparently is the only one who can understand her and translates, sometimes precisely and at others with her own interpretation - which eludes the desperate moment and produces some humor. After an unexpected visit from the estranged gay son who has come to ask his mother to pay for his partner’s surgery who is diagnosed with cancer, and is unexpectedly joined by his emotionally damaged, dysfunctional sister making her routine obligatory visit, the caretaker unexpectedly has to leave to see her husband who has arrived home unexpectedly. This is where the already contrived plot runs in to its most severe problems, the most confusing being if Mrs. Stone so desperately desires to communicate, even configuring letters in the air to spell words, why doesn’t she just grab a pen and some paper and write her message, a task which she seems very capable of accomplishing.
This unfortunately scars the otherwise believable and carefully nuanced performance of Colleen Smith Wallnau who captures the pride of the ill laden conservative matriarch with intelligent emotional and physical choices. Justin Bohon gives a valid attempt to portray son Daniel but the dialogue sometimes falls short leaving him stranded; but he manages to depict a non-stereotypical present day gay male in the mainstream of society. Katherine Heller serves up a broad character with dysfunctional appeal but is faced with the issue of why she is even there. As the competent caretaker, Sophia Bishop turns in a sincere effort in an underwritten role. This fine cast is just faced with too many obstacles in plot and script to overcome, in order to examine and shed light on important issues.
MILK FOR MRS. STONE
“Milk for Mrs. Stone” is presented by The New York International Fringe Festival and Proletarian Productions at the Robert Moss Theater, 440 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor (Astor Place and East 4th Street).
All performances of “Milk for Mrs. Stone” take place at on the following schedule: Monday August 19th at 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday August 21st at 9:15 p.m.; and Thursday August 22nd at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $18.00 at the door and $15.00 for advance purchase. The running time is 1 hour and 30 minutes. For more information about the show and the cast and creative team, please visit www.milkformrsstone.com For more information about the 17th Annual New York Fringe Festival visit www.FringeNYC.org.
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Monday, August 19, 2013
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