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.
