[NEohioPAL] Berko review: 'TWO ROOMS' (Charenton & CPT)

[Roy Berko]

Compelling, outstanding ‘TWO ROOMS’ at Charenton

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

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

--coolcleveland.com--

‘TWO ROOMS,’ now in production by Charenton Theatre,
is both a love story and a debate.  Set in the
turbulent 1980s, author Lee Blessing’s taut
psychodrama was deservedly named by Time Magazine as
"Best Play of the Year" in 1988.

The action switches between two stark rooms.  One is
the windowless cubicle in Beirut, Lebanon where
hostage Michael Wells, a history professor at that
city’s American University, lies blindfolded as a
captive of an unknown militant Islamic group. The
other room is Michael’s study in the United States. As
 months turn into years and her husband's fate hangs
precariously, Mike's wife, Lanie, strips the room to
the bare walls in order to feel closer to him and his
plight. For her, a thin mat she has dragged into his
office represents "all the corners of the room," and
where she imagines she can speak with, and even touch,
her missing husband.

In this staging, the same space serves for both rooms
and is the locale for not only the imaginary
conversations between the hostage and his wife, but
also for the real talks between Lanie, a reporter and
a State Department official.  

Walker is the reporter.  At the start he appears to be
someone who hopes to develop the situation into a
major personal accomplishment, maybe a journey to a
Pulitzer Prize.  Bby the end, we are not sure.  Ellen
is a coolly, efficient, dispassionate, State
Department representative whose task is to keep Lanie
off-balance and uninformed of the political
machinations which include using her husband as a
pawn.

Eventually, the wife speaks out against the government
policy and in so doing triggers a series of events
that brings the play to its unnerving conclusion.  

The script is penetrating and powerful in examining
the perspective of individuals , of the public, and of
the government.  In the end there are no winners, only
losers, and the sense of futility and despair that
comes when we realize that logic, compassion and
fairness are meaningless when dealing with those who
would commit barbarous acts with a totally different
definition of what it means to be ethnical, and a
government that apparently has no conscience or morals
of its own.

Charenton’s production, under the keen directorial
guidance of Jacqui Loewy, is outstanding.  The
deliberately slow pace makes the pain of not knowing
excruciating.   The cast is clear in their
motivations, the messages of the story are well
etched.  Everything, from Michel Ostaszewski’s
projections, to Nathan Tulenson’s sound effects, to
the sparse set, works.

Jeffrey Grover is chilling in his controlled
characterization of Michael.  As the play progresses
Grover’s eyes become deader and deader.  By the end,
when he matter-of-factly explains his fate, his eyes
are hollow and lifeless. 

Sarah Morton, as Lanie, holds her emotions in perfect
check.  The characterization develops clearly and her
frustration and angst are well honed. In the hands of
a lesser actress the believability level would have
been destroyed as it would have been so easy to
overact the role. 

Mary Alice Beck is chilling as the State Department
official who shows no emotion, is programmed to act
like a robot, and is so loyal to the government that
she almost appears to be brainwashed.  

Though he is quite acceptable as Walker, Jason Markouc
sometimes loses contact with the character.  Some of
his lines sound automatic, rather than meaningful.  

The production is being staged in Cleveland Public
Theatre’s newest performance space, the former
bookstore next to CPT.  Though the space is intimate
and very appropriate for ‘TWO ROOMS,’ it also has
several handicaps.  The street noises come through the
entrance doors, the applause and laughter from the
adjoining theatres leak through, and the sound of
patrons coming to and exiting from the second floor
Levine Theatre is distracting.

Capsule judgement:  Charenton’s two hour production of
‘TWO ROOMS’ is one of the local season’s highlights. 
The production deserves sold out houses.  Because of
the subject matter, don’t assume the show is
depressing.  It will stimulate the senses and reveal a
great deal of the “real” world of politics and the
present state of the world. 

Upcoming CPT productions:
‘LIVING TALL,’ February 28-March 2.  A sell-out from
the 2007 Big Box series, the script reveals the
hollowness of the marketplace and resiliency of the
human spirit.  It features Ker Wells.

‘THE CONFESSIONS OF PUNCH AND JUDY,’ until February
23.  CPT brings back this wild all-night argument that
captures the anarchic spirit of the classic Punch and
Judy puppet show
..except this time it’s real people.

‘DANCEWORKS 08,’ March 13-April 20.  Seven local dance
companies display their talents.  Included are Inlet
Dance, Groundworks, SAFMOD.  Check the CPT website for
dates and companies.

‘TWO ROOMS’ is being performed at Cleveland Public
Theatre through March 8.  For tickets to all CPT
productions call 216-631-2727 or visit
www.cptonline.org.


Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info
      
Roy's theatre and dance reviews appear regularly on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.  His reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com


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