[NEohioPAL]Berko review: THE GOAT OR, WHO IS SYLVIA (Dobama)

[Roy Berko]

Brilliantly acted ‘THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA?’ at
DOBAMA

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	

Edward Albee is noted as the major American playwright
of the Absurdist movement.  He probes society by
examining the disjointed, the improbable, the
outrageous.  His themes often investigate
dysfunctional family units  (‘WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA
WOOLF?’), the outcasts (‘BALLAD OF THE SAD CAFE’) and
life as it should be but isn’t (‘THREE TALL WOMEN’). 
One of his more recent plays, ‘THE GOAT OR WHO IS
SYLVIA?,’ which won the Tony Best Play award and best
play recognition from the New York Critics Circle, the
Outer Critics Circle and the Drama Desk, is now being
staged by Dobama.

The story line concerns an architect who has just
received an international prize, been awarded a
lucrative contract and celebrated his 50th birthday. 
In this period of euphoric success he also has been
forced to confess to his wife and son that he's
involved in a sexual relationship with a goat (yes, I
said a goat), which will probably destroy his
marriage, his career and his life.

The play, a black comedy, was hailed in its Broadway
and London openings as having "extravagant wit!.” It
was heralded as “the best Albee has turned out in his
long career!." In spite of these raves, it is not easy
to watch.  It features many language games and
grammatical arguments in the middle of catastrophes
and existential disputes between characters.  It
contains visual and verbal actions which can easily
incite strong reactions from an audience.

Though it appears to be about sodomy (in this case
zoophilia), it may be Albee’s way of confronting the
attitudes of some segments of society concerning
homosexuality, among other societal issues.  Albee,
himself a homosexual, has used this theme in other
plays, but never to such an  extent.  

This is one of Albee’s most blunt plays, especially in
the unnerving conclusion.  What you won't find in this
script is the subtlety of earlier Albee plays.  The
goat metaphor, for example, carries over into even the
use of Billy for the gay son’s name. 

Dobama’s production, under the adept direction of Joel
Hammer, is superb!  It is as close to a flawless
production as you are likely to see.  The acting is
nothing short of mesmerizing.  Each character is
clearly and consistently defined and developed.  

Tracee Patterson as Stevie, the wife/mother, gives one
of the finest performances ever seen on a local stage.
 She underplays with superb control, she lashes with a
vengeance, she is so real that she carries the
audience through every range of emotion.  This is a
performance which can’t be fully appreciated through
explanation, it must be seen!

Scott Miller (Martin, the husband) is  nearly
Patterson’s equal.  Though Albee’s writing sometimes
gives the character little motivation and some of the
lines are obtuse, Miller soars above the script and
develops a clear characterization of a befuddled yet
purposeful man in the midst of trauma.

Scott Espositio, who tends to be cast in light-weight
rolls to reflect his youthful pretty boy looks,
finally gets a chance to show that he is a real actor.
 His portrayal of son Billy is masterful.  He is
especially strong in the final scene in which his
whole life collapses.   His tear-filled realization
speech, and its aftermath, shows acting maturity.

Charles Kartali as Ross, Martin’s best friend is
excellent in the earlier scenes, but shades his
performance a little too much in the last act.  It may
be the nature of the script, but his pontificating in
the play’s denouement has a somewhat hollow ring.  

Trad Burns’ set works extremely well.  No credit is
given to the prop person, but whoever it was, he or
she deserves a special curtain call.  This is one very
difficult show for which to find and supply the
necessary items. 

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:    Dobama’s ‘THE GOAT OR, WHO IS
SYLVIA?’ is one of the finest acted productions I have
seen in my many years of reviewing the Cleveland
theatre scene.  Though not emotionally easy to sit
through, this is a production everyone interested in
theatre MUST SEE!  

There must be something in the air at the Cleveland
Play House that makes small professional companies
shine.  Ensemble Theatre has taken leaps up the ladder
since moving to CPH.  The same seems to have happened
to Dobama.

Dobama’s production of ‘THE GOAT OR, WHO IS SYLVIA’
runs through October 16 at The Cleveland Play House
For information and tickets call 216-932-3396. 
Seating is extremely limited in the small black box
theatre so call immediately for tickets.


Roy Berko's web page can be found at www.royberko.info.  His theatre and dance reviews appear on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.


		
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