by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
Jack Barnard and Patrick Robinson have been active on the Jacksonville theatre scene for a number of years. They are both doing their best work ever in the current Limelight Theatre production of playwright Herb Gardner’s Tony Award winning bittersweet comedy about old age, I’m Not Rappaport.
Barnard plays Nat, an 81-year old irascible, unrepentant New York Jewish radical. He spouts his considerable opinions and embellishes his tales of his past in Central Park.
Robinson plays Midge, also an octogenarian who has been a building superintendent for forty years and is fighting forced retirement. He hopes to work out a graceful exit from the job.
These two old codgers carry on a conversation, that is usually one sided because of Nat’s never ending stream of words. Enter Tim Kompanchenko is painfully funny as Dansforth, the building president whose resolve to fire Midge collapses in the face of Nat’s wheeling and dealing.
Into the picture comes Clara, (Emily Gerbino) Nat’s concerned and sensitive daughter, who is fed up with her father’s schemes and behavior and threatens to put him in a home.
Maggie Stern plays an attractive young art student who comes to the park to draw but has personal problems of her own that Nat and Midge attempt to resolve.
Steven Hawkes plays two menacing roles, as a drug dealer and a street thug. He gives each character his own identity with some costuming and vocal variety.
The performances are all fine, but Barnard and Robinson are masterful in their roles. They made us feel old age and all its aches and pains. They made us laugh and almost cry, and totally mesmerized the audience for two hours.
Costumer Stacy Capo’s costumes effectively reflected the early l980s.
Resident Designer/Technical Director Scott Ashley keeps topping himself. His corner of Central Park has a small stone bridge, authentic benches, lots of leaves and trees and even a small pond with real water at the front of the stage. (What Scott, no fish?)
During the Saturday afternoon performance I attended, in the middle of Act I, there appeared to be a small bird flying above the stage for about 30 seconds before it disappeared into the trees. My, I though, what a great special effect!! How in the world did they do it? At the intermission we figured out it was a large moth, which made another brief appearance in Act II. If you are lucky, when you see the show, you may see the moth perform!!
The play title refers to an old vaudeville routine that is used in the course of the play. Rappaport debuted in l986, but it is still relevant today. New York has certainly changed but there are still thugs and drug dealers in Central Park, and society still mistreats the indigent elderly.
If dynamic acting and well-written scripts and superb direction (by Kiki Tovey) interest you as a theatergoer, than by all means don’t miss Limelight’s I’m Not Rappaport. Performances are at the Joukowsky Family Foundation Center for the Performing Arts at 11 Old Mission Ave in St. Augustine Florida. Call 8251164 for information and reservations.
Mark your calendar now for Valentine’s Day 2007, when Patrick Robinson (appearing as his real age!!) will present his one-man musical revue Soulful Sounds-The Music of Sam Cooke. It will be a romantic and song -filled evening that is not to be missed. Make your reservations early.
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