[NEohioPAL] "Theatrical Gem" -- 2 More Rave Reviews of FREUD'S LAST SESSION

[Neil Thackaberry]

*‘Freud’s Last Session’ proves theatrical gem*



Posted: Thursday, March 7, 2013 12:00 pm

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*Reviewed by FRAN HELLER *

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A drama centering on a debate about the existence of God seems an unlikely
subject for entertainment. Mark St. Germain’s entertaining “Freud’s Last
Session” proves otherwise.



Inspired by Armand Nicholi Jr.’s “The Question of God,” with Neil
Thackaberry’s bracing direction and crackling performances by Brian
Zoldessy as Freud and Keith Stevens as C.S. Lewis, “Freud’s Last Session”
is 80 straight minutes of intelligent and irresistible theater.



The play centers on a fictitious meeting between Freud, the atheist father
of psychoanalysis, and Lewis as an Oxford don and recent convert to
Christianity. While it revolves around their antithetical belief systems,
the war of wits between these two towering intellects includes an
engrossing discussion about sex, death, war, Hitler and the role of humor.



It’s Sept. 3, 1939, the eve of World War II. Freud, 83, is terminally ill
with oral cancer; Lewis, 40, has yet to write his famous “The Chronicles of
Narnia.” Freud has invited Lewis to London to debate religion; the man of
science and reason cannot understand why this rising literary star could
embrace theism. The play takes on the aura of dialectic, a Talmudic dispute
about the existence of God.

Rory Wohl’s handsome setting of Freud’s book-lined study, complete with
artifacts from antiquity, draws the audience into the debate.



Zoldessy turns every role into theatrical gold. The veteran Jewish actor
makes Freud’s prickly, cynical nature and the pain from his illness come
alive. With faltering gait, imperious mien and impeccable Viennese accent,
he creates an indelible portrait of Freud.



Despite a wobbly English dialect, Stevens holds his own as a brilliant
academic as impassioned in his beliefs as Freud is about his non-belief.
Religion makes room for science; why can’t science make room for religion?
asks a forceful Lewis.



Both despised their fathers as men of faith who drove their sons away from
religion. Freud bitterly relates an anecdote about his father, an Orthodox
Jew. When Freud was a child, he saw a man knock his father’s hat off and
shout, “Get off the sidewalk, Jew.” Freud’s father did, saying nothing,
doing nothing. His father’s greatest influence, says Freud, was making him
realize who not to be.

Freud grows agitated when the discussion turns to war, Hitler and
persecution of the Jews. When British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain
declares war against Germany, he reacts. “There will always be monsters
like Hitler,” Freud says. “We

cannot survive without enemies; they are as necessary as air.”



Freud is also critical of Jesus’ teachings. Should Poland turn the other
cheek and love its neighbor when German tanks are destroying its homes? he
asks rhetorically.



Humor provides relief from the heavy subject matter. When Lewis apologizes
for being late, Freud answers, “If I wasn’t 83, it wouldn’t matter.” When
an air raid siren proves a false alarm, the avowed atheist mutters, “Thank
God,” then corrects himself, saying, “It’s a bad habit.”



Plays of ideas are rare today. That’s good reason to see “Freud’s Last
Session.”



WHAT: ‘Freud’s Last Session’

WHERE: Greystone Hall, 103 S. High St., Akron

WHEN: Through Sunday, March 17

TICKETS & INFO: 330-374-7568 or www.actorssummit.org



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*Actors’ Summit challenges audience with *

*‘Freud’s Last Session’***

*3/7/2013 - West Side Leader*  *By David Ritchey*

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*Production features ‘excellent’ directing, acting*



DOWNTOWN AKRON — If lightning had struck Actors’ Summit in Akron’s
Greystone Hall, I would not have been surprised when I saw the production
of “Freud’s Last Session” by Mark St. Germain.

The story takes place in the London study of Sigmund Freud (Brian
Zoldessy). On the day that Great Britain enters World War II, C.S. Lewis
(Keith Stevens), a young Oxford professor, visits at Freud’s invitation.
They discuss God, sex, the start of World War II and suicide. On the radio,
they listen to reports of Germany invading Poland.


Lewis was raised in a strict religious home and wrote books that deal with
religious themes. He is known for “The Screwtape Letters” and “The
Chronicles of Narnia.”

The founding father of psychoanalysis, Freud was a self-proclaimed atheist.


The two men are amiable. Each respects the other’s intellect and
professional accomplishments. However, soon into the play, Lewis realizes
something is wrong. Freud explains he has cancer of the mouth. A doctor has
removed his palate and constructed an artificial palate, which doesn’t fit
well and causes him to cough and bleed. Twenty days after this meeting of
Freud and Lewis, Freud will die.


Freud talks at length about killing himself if the pain becomes too
difficult to continue. Lewis insists God gives life and only God can take a
life. Freud reminds Lewis he doesn’t believe in a God and, therefore, he
can end his life.


Lewis panics when the sirens sound, warning of a bombing. The siren leads
Lewis to talk about being a soldier in World War I.

Lewis has seen death on the battlefield; Freud faces his own death — either
by suicide or by his body giving out from the cancer.

I have seen both Zoldessy and Stevens in other plays.  The two men are at
the top of their game in this production.


Director Neil Thackaberry did an excellent job with a difficult script and
a small cast. He helped his actors make their character’s points, and these
points (war, suicide, God and life and death) are not easy topics to bring
to the stage.


MaryJo Alexander (costumes and props) did a wonderful job dressing the set,
which was designed by Rory Wohl. The latter created Freud’s office on a
stage, raked to about 38 degrees. Of course, a feature of the set was the
daybed, where Freud’s patients would lie for psychoanalysis. Alexander
dressed the set with appropriate antiques, African masks and other items
Freud would have collected in his life.


“Freud’s Last Session” surfaces significant problems in the world and,
fortunately, doesn’t attempt to solve all of them. Certainly, when people
leave Greystone Hall, they have more to talk about than where they parked
the car.

The play runs about 90 minutes without an intermission. “Freud’s Last
Session” will be on the stage through March 17. For tickets, call
330-374-7568.



*David Ritchey has a Ph.D. in communications and is a professor of
communications at The University of Akron. He is a member of the American
Theatre Critics Association.*
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