I didn't want to review Anton Dudley's mis-constructed play about grief, Substitution, because- why knock a new theater company's sincere effort? But I have to because of a great performance by a totally empathetic Jan Maxwell.
A woman's son has died in a boating accident, along with other students. Maxwell is powerfully moving in every moment of her performance. Misdirected by Katherine Kovner, there is a strong contrast between the reality of Maxwell's portrayal and the lack of believability in the rest of the cast as a mother and a teacher fight over the memory of the son -- although Kieran Campion, after an over-the-top loud, blustering beginning, does eventually settle down to a moving reality in his portrayal.
There are inserts of scenes with two of the drownees spouting shallow teenage philosophy -- boring. But the moving brilliance of Maxwell, who I saw steal the show in a comic turn in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang a couple of years ago, now giving us a flawlessly-acted gut-wrenching, wonderful performance that must be applauded and cheered. And seen.
