By Linda Chin
‘Sylvia’ – Written by A.R. Gurney; Directed by Michelle M. Aguillon; Presented by Theatre UnCorked at the Deanne Hall, Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont Street, Boston through April 21
Sylvia, the 1995 comedy about a Manhattan romantic triangle – Gregg, Kate and their new dog Sylvia – is a love letter to man’s best friend but mostly to the whimsical, wonderful writing of A.R. Gurney.
Great American playwright A.R. Gurney died in 2017 at the age of 87, and left us with a body of work that should be staged more frequently for audiences to appreciate. Gurney is most known for Love Letters, but Sylvia, Sylvia, wherefore art thou Sylvia? With its universal themes, of love, loyalty, and marriage, who can’t relate? In 2019 who doesn’t need to laugh (non-stop) for 2 hours (including intermission). It seems relatively easy to do on a limited budget, set mostly in a Manhattan apartment, a bench in the park, a therapist’s office and the 2W, 2M (flexible casting) are all meaty roles with delicious dialogue.
Turns out finding the right cast and creative team is the key, and Theatre Uncorked, a new company founded by producing artistic director Shana Dirik, presents a delightful production. Dirik plays the titular role, which was originated on Broadway by Annaleigh Ashford and also played by Sarah Jessica Parker early in their careers. Dirik has been around the block many times, and her experience shows. Her physicality is marvelous (Sylvia jumps on couches, leaps in mid-air, dashes to meet a boy-dog in the park, and humps in heat!) and displays a broad emotional range in her face and voice. In her performance, Dirik brings out her lived understanding of marital relationships, desire for connection and stability but also to run free, and cynicism when asked by her master to demonstrate tricks (retrieving a ball is one thing, but Sylvia really has a bone to pick when Greg asks her to roll over).
David Anderson shows his versatility and great comedic chops as Tom, Phyllis and Leslie, and Allan Mayo and Kimberly McClure display the depth of their acting skills as Greg and Kate. And they can sing! In a scene where they part company at the airport, representative of their growing physical and emotional distance, the couple sings a lovely rendition of Cole Porter’s Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye. (Dirik, dressed as a femme fatale also sings in the trio). I half-expected rain to start pouring from the sky, Greg to jump onto the lamppost on stage left, and pull out an umbrella. But Theatre UnCorked’s Sylvia, directed by Michelle R. Aguillon, proves that you don’t need high tech or pageantry to tell a great story. For tickets and info, go to: bostontheatrescene.com
