Series C of the Ensemble Studio Theatre's 2001 One Act Marathon has one great play, one awful one and two that are pretty good. Invitation to a Funeral by Julie McKee, about two women at the funeral of their common ex-husband, is written with rare wit, directed with impeccable timing by Deborah Hedwall, and performed by two brilliant actresses, Kathleen Doyle and Susan Pellegrino, each with the underplayed comic performance of a master. It's the last of the four on the program, and I'm still smiling a day later. In one of the others, Jen Drohan is a young actress with the potential to go all the way. The long, boring one, Larry's Charm by Edward Allan Baker, is only poorly written, acted and directed, with no timing or restraint. Other than that, it's fine.
Subtitle:
Plays included: Invitation to a Funeral, Larry's Charm, UKIMWI
Opened:
May 2001
Ended:
May 2001
Country:
USA
State:
New York
City:
New York
Company/Producers:
Ensemble Studio Theater
Theater Type:
off-Broadway
Theater:
Ensemble Studio Theater
Genre:
One-Acts
Review:
Cast:
Kathleen Doyle, Susan Pellegrino, Deborah Hedwall.
Critic:
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed:
May 2001
