Reviewed by Tony Annicone
2nd Story Theatre’s first show of 2017 is “Seascape” by Edward Albee. Edward Albee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comic-drama brings eloquence, wit and warmth to a quirky yet compelling examination of the meaning of life. On a deserted beach, a middle-aged couple encounter two humanesque sea creatures contemplating the evolutionary leap to dry land. Ironically, it’s the couple, for whom existence has grown flat and routine, who hold the answers to the inquisitive amphibians’ naive yet probing questions. Director Ed Shea takes himself and his talented cast on a journey to show how the couples can learn how to live with each other in understanding and compassion. An important message is not to fear someone else due to appearances or difference of opinions and beliefs. He and the rest of the cast deliver sensational performances in this terrific show.
Ed does double duty as director and playing the lead role of Charlie. He does a splendid job in this role as he changes his mind when confronted by his wife and later the two visitors. Susie Bowen Powers excellently plays his wife, Nancy with her enormous amount of dialogue and has the funniest one liners in Act 1, while putting her husband in his place. They have grown apart throughout the years wanting different things but their meeting this strange couple on the beach, awakens them from their doldrums in new and interesting ways. The second act becomes a comic romp when the two amphibian creatures question their human counterparts. Chuck Lafond as Leslie and Valerie Westgate as Sarah, make this very different looking into characters the audience can readily relate to and are excellent in their roles. They want to leave their watery home and venture into new and uncharted territory. Their inquisitiveness arouses the deep seated feelings that the older couple has hidden for many years, bringing both couples into a new and better understanding of each other and their respective spouses and hopefully to understand each other. This is an astounding and pertinent message for the United States during this turbulent political unrest to try to accept each other for our differences and not condemn someone for those very things. So for a look at a prize winning show that still resonates with contemporary audiences forty two years later, be sure to catch “Seascape” at 2nd Story Theatre before time runs out.
SEASCAPE (13 January to 5 February)
2nd Story Theatre, 28 Market Street, Warren, RI
1(401)247-4200 or www.2ndstorytheatre.com
