[NEohioPAL] Berko review: TWO ONE-ACT PLAYS @ Cesear's Forum

[Roy Berko]

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*Fine acting featured in Two One-Acts Plays at Cesear’s Forum*



Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle)



Arthur Miller is considered one of America’s greatest playwrights.  He,
along with William Inge and Tennessee Williams, are often termed the
fathers of American modern theatre.



An east coast liberal, he often is called “the social conscience of
America.”  He continued to probe social wounds of culture and exposed his
personal issues for the sake of his art.  He constantly strikes emotional
chords as he probes, “Is this the best way to live?.”



His ELEGY FOR A LADY finds a distraught and seemingly grief-stricken man
entering a gift store under the pretense of purchasing a present for his
dying mistress.  The woman has denied him involvement in her suffering and
he apparently needs to share his feelings with someone.  The owner of the
shop encourages him to share his thoughts, thus serving as a surrogate
confidante.



The play is filled with ambiguity and leaves the authenticity of the
happenings in question.  Miller is noted for his meticulous choice of words.
Due to the unnatural flow of language in ELEGY FOR A LADY, one has to
question whether this is an experience of surrealism rather than journey of
realism.



Both Dana Hart as the man and Ursula Cataan as the shop owner are excellent
in their presentations.  The goings on are well paced and hold the
audience’s attention.



THREE WOMEN is a tone poem by Sylvia Plath.   Originally written as a radio
drama in 1962, it is Plath’s only play.  It was written about a year before
the poetess died.



The epic traces three different views of pregnancy and childbirth.   The
traditional birth resulting in a healthy baby, a miscarriage, and a young
woman who gives birth, but gives the baby up for adoption.  Some of her
thoughts must have been quite personal as after giving birth, she later had
a miscarriage.



As with any piece of poetry, many of the ideas are abstract and require
concentration to grasp Palth’s ideas.



Ursula Cataan, Kristen Levy and Katrina Melanie Walker all give credible
performances, making clarity out of the numerous metaphors and motifs.



*Capsule Judgement:  Cesear’s Forum’s production philosophy centers on
making social commentary while presenting experimental theatre.  Though not
a traditional type of production, the evening of one-acts is a good example
of thoughtful theatre.*



TWO ONE-ACTS (ELEGY FOR A LADY and THREE WOMEN) runs through May 26 at 8 pm
on Fridays and Saturdays and 3 pm for the April 29th Sunday
performance at  Cesear’s
Forum, located in Kennedy’s Down Under, PlayhouseSquare. For information
and reservations call 216-241-6000.


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