The always adventurous BNTC took on a difficult challenge with this play, if only because its theme -- the impossibility of faithfulness in male/female relationships -- cuts against the American party line, which treats infidelity as a cardinal sin. Arthur Schnitzler, an assimilated Austrian Jew writing in the 1920s about the waning days of the Austro-Hungarian empire, rejects such a notion. In his view, infidelity is the norm, monogamy an illusion, which means men and women can't help but betray each other. This very European and cynical -- Schnitzler would probably say realistic -- view of human nature is politically incorrect today, which explains why Schnitzler is performed so little in the USA (and why Stanley Kubrick's recent film adaptation of another Schnitzler story failed so resoundingly). Another problem for an American company is to find the right acting style to match Schnitzler's sleek, old-worldly, aphoristic way of writing. Thanks to superb direction and acting, BNTC brings off Anatol triumphantly (designer Falkner deserves kudos as well for her elegant, red-satin set).
Kevin Weisman plays Anatol, the upper- class, 19th century Viennese whose psyche is dissected by Schnitzler in merciless but satirical fashion. Anatol, you see, has an obsessive need to possess women; he flits from one to the other seeking and demanding fidelity, even as he cheats on them all, whether they are heiresses or whores, single or married. The knowledge of his own hypocritical failings causes him considerable anguish and pain, which upsets his best friend Max (a debonair Ron Garcia) no end. Max sees Anatol as a hopeless, confused romantic who should quit chasing the skirts and settle for a normal life with a wife and a mistress. Anatol is so driven, though, that he can't stop womanizing -- even on his wedding day. It's at this time that he finally gets his comeuppance, from Ilona (Lauren Moglen), a beautiful actress who turns the sexual tables on him. Full of humor, visual splendor and delicious performances, this production is a winner.
