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entertaining u newspaper: your monthly guide to entertainment
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by dick kerekes
dickkerekes@yahoo.com
* this article is exclusive to eujacksonville.com
Theatre Jacksonville opened the fourth play of its 88th season on Friday April 18th, presenting Ira Wallach’s comedy The Absence of a Cello.
This play debuted in New York in l964 and to prepare you to see and enjoy this show, Theatre Jax is going to take you back 44 years to l964. Go to www.theatrejax.com, click on Absence of a Cello, then click on the excellent Study Guide prepared by TJ’s Development Director, Staci Cobb. You will find everything you will ever want to know about this play, including the definition of many of the words and expressions used. It’s a useful tool and an excellent mirror back in time and into the playwright’s process.
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Before I go a bit into the plot and the production, imagine we are getting into a time machine and going briefly back to l964. Looking at major events today compared to then, we find many similarities. Now, we are in a war with Iraq, and then we were in a war with Vietnam. In l964, President Johnson declared a war on poverty; soon we will be receiving government rebate checks to counteract the effects of a recession. Now, Mother Nature seems to be on a tornado rampage, in l964 Jacksonville was hit by Hurricane Dora, the only major hurricane in its history with over 280 million dollars in damage. Now, China is news concerning the Olympics, in l964, the news from China concerned the denotation of its first atomic bomb!
Our main character, the scientist and educator Dr. Andrew Pilgrim, is having a personal financial crisis, and is over $200,000 in debt, with only $279 in the bank. His daughter Joanna (Denise Nicole) is returning to Radcliffe College (which ain’t cheap). The average income in l964 was $6,000, with the average house costing $l3,000, a loaf of bread $.2l, a gallon of gas 27 cents and a ticket to a Broadway show $ 3.60.
Andrew wants a job offered by a big corporation at $60,000 a year - but will he fit the corporate image they want? He dresses casually. His wife is far more interested in writing medieval history books (on obscure subjects that don’t produce much income) than in housekeeping.
Mr. Clifton (Joe Wilson) is the personnel recruiter from the Corporation who will be coming to Andrew’s New York City home to carefully check him out to see if he conforms to management’s concept of a good employee. I have seen Mr. Wilson on the Orange Park Community Theatre stage in Gypsy and Twelve Angry Men and he is picture perfect as the clean-cut corporate executive. His best line is when he recites a company motto: “Hire fast, job don’t last. Hire slow, fire no.”
Andrew gets a quick course in corporate etiquette from a neighbor Perry (Robert Thames), a recent college graduate. Andrews brings out his old television set, hides all the liquor on his bar except for three acceptable bottles. He even hides the cello that he plays as a hobby, because it does not fit the image. Hence the title of the play, Absence of a Cello.
Into the mix, add a kooky kleptomaniac neighbor, Emma, who unwantedly pretends to be Andrew’s mother when Mr. Clifton arrives for the interview. Charlotte Leslie, who has returned to this stage after many years of absence, plays this role. Seasoned theatre goers may remember her as Charlotte Jackson when she appeared in Gypsy and Dark of the Moon back in the l980s.
Tracy Olin plays Marian who is Andrew’s widowed sister, visiting on her way to London. This is a pivotal role since she and Mr. Clifton eventually strike up a romance that has some influence on the outcome of the play. Ms. Olin, assisted by Costumer Sally Pettegrew puts on a fashion show of l960s dresses and boots and she even sports a very 60s hairdo. As I was exiting the theatre, I overheard some say Ms. Olin reminded them of a young Jane Fonda. I would have to agree and even her voice has that Fonda tonality.
The leading roles of Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim are played by two performers most in demand on the Jacksonville stages.
Robyn Neal is an incredibly versatile actress from comedy (Charlotte in Moon Over Buffalo) or drama (Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter). She is totally convincing as the intellectual wife, who does not want to give up her soul and brain to the corporate world.
Roger Lowe has cornered the market on executive roles in recent years but rightfully so since he does them so well, be they comic or dramatic roles. Mr. Lowe always modestly uses the same biography in the programs of all the plays in which he appears and never lists the long resume of credits he has accumulated just in Jacksonville. I hereby bestow upon him the title “Amazing but Humble.” Mr. Lowe is President of Players by the Sea and was one of the major driving forces that built that theatre into such a successful model of community theatre. I liked Roger’s interpretation of Andrew and you will too.
New York and Los Angeles actor and director Ennalls Berl was the guest director for this play, having come here due to a long time friendship with actor David Sacks. Be sure to read his interesting resume in the program when you see this play. He has put a lot of life into a vintage comedy that is an example of many of the l960s “living room” comedies.
I loved Set Designer’s Kelly Wagoner’s lovely l960s apartment, with its alcoves and striped wallpaper. I want to know if I can move in for a couple of weeks.
Sally Pettegrew has been my favorite costume designer for years and it is good to see her back for this show at Theatre Jacksonville.
This is a good old-fashioned comedy, with only one tiny little cuss word for those of you who care about such things, and I felt it was necessary.
The run continues through May 3rd at the Harold K. Smith Playhouse, 2032 San Marco Avenue, so don’t miss it. For reservations call 396-4425.
Theatre Jacksonville’s final show for the season is The Secret Garden which opens June 6th.
Article Published in the April 2008 Issue of EU Jacksonville
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