play's reach exceeds its grasp.
With all of its pretentious moralizing against popular culture
and the cult of personality, its questioning of the public's
herd mentality, its extended commentaries on the process
of writing, the play is really not much more than a feel-good
redemptive tale that quivers with gothic horror.
In Melinda Avery, a rock star who has returned to her
hometown for a concert, “Grendelyn” finds its “beast ready
to pounce.” Unknown to Hannah, Melinda, her childhood friend
played with ferocity by a gravel-voiced Carol Todd, has
appeared, unannounced and drunk, at Hannah's home. She
is now sprawled on Hannah's bed at the center of her sun-filled
country bedroom. (Richard Turick has designed the lovely
setting, with lighting by Jeff Greenberg.)
Siggy is simultaneously repulsed and attracted by Melinda.
She proceeds to read aloud from her mother's book in an
attempt to oust the sleeping woman from the room. Melinda
awakens like a wounded bear. As violence quickly escalates
between the two, Siggy remains determined not to let Melinda's “beast” eclipse
her humanity. (Why this precocious little stoic doesn't
just call the police remains a mystery.)
“You're not a monster,” the near saintly Siggy insists
in the midst of a nasty exchange. “You're just pretending.
Deep down, you're just a little girl.”
Segue back to Hannah. We learn from one of her monologues
that her childhood friend (Melinda) had a minister father
who used to roam the house at night hunting for crocodiles,
and that the girl's wheelchair-bound mother would accuse
her daughter of lying when she reported his actions.
“What do you know about your father?” Melinda taunts her
young would-be healer.
John Pietrowski has directed this over-stuffed, overblown
exercise with every stop open. His three fine players each
give their all, with Ms. Todd's torrent of tears in the
final act risking an onstage flood.
“The Song of Grendelyn” is at Playwrights Theater,
33 Green Village Road, Madison , through April 24. Information:
(973) 514-1787 or at www.ptnj.org . |