Sharr White’s The Snow Geese, tightly directed by Daniel Sullivan, is a very engaging family drama set in 1917, as America was entering World War I. The radiant Mary Louise Parker gives a complex, muti-emotional performance as the disturbed, widowed mother of two sons: Evan Jonigkeit, who has joined an elite outfit in the army, and Brian Cross, who has ideas, doubts, and insights as he explores the family’s fall from wealth. The play brings up fascinating questions about the foibles of having and preserving money, and the compulsion of the rich to demonstrate their status.
Danny Burstein, with a perfect German accent, is wonderful, an award contender in my book, as their uncle; and Victoria Clark is very strong as his wife. And for dessert we have the delicious Jessica Love as the maid.
Director Daniel Sullivan keeps the pace and the action flowing, John Lee Beatty’s set of the family’s lodge is quite beautiful, perfectly lighted by Japhy Weidman, and Jane Greenwood’s costumes are just right.
In this really good show the only flaw I find is in one anachronism: the word “fuck” was not used in this way in 1917 -- it didn’t appear in common vocabulary until after World War II, when homecoming soldiers introduced the concept. But I forgive Mr. White because of her youth. The word is sprinkled so liberally throughout contemporary plays, it probably wouldn’t occur to her that it doesn’t fit the period. Otherwise, The Snow Geese proves an insightful, moving play, full of life, well done in all areas.
