Theater Review—

A Great Start For The Summer Cabaret Season In Yale

By June April

NEW HAVEN — If the remaining three plays are as intriguing and well-acted as the season-opening Valparaiso, then Yale’s Summer Cabaret is off to a good start in presenting a new season of enjoyable, stimulating theatre.

The actors, especially Derek Lucci as Chorus and Jeanine Serralles as Delfina, illuminate the stage in a way that makes for an exciting evening. Directed by Kelly Flynn, Valparaiso offers an insightful and rather scathing look at the media industry.

There is a wonderful word, “tonypandy,” that is used a number of times in the fascinating book The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey and it beautifully describes the essence of this play. Tonypandy is actually a city in the south of Wales. An event occurred there that was grossly distorted and everafter people assumed the manipulated “documentation” to be fact. Josephine Tey’s main character uses it as a noun, meaning to describe a situation that is intentionally manipulated and distorted for ulterior purposes.

Written by the enthusiastically lauded novelist and playwright Don DeLillo, Valparaiso is the story of a man on his way to Valparaiso, Ind., for a business trip. Because he misses his plane, he ends up in Valparaiso, Chile, and his life and the reality of his world is shattered.

The program describes the play as a dark comedy. Certainly there are some very funny, albeit pointed, moments that offer release to the tensions that continue to mount for Michael Majeski and his wife Livia. But overall there is almost a sense of victimization, of sacrificial soul-bearing to please the  “masses.”

DeLillo’s love of words and penetrating observations about American media strongly appealed to this talented Yale Summer Cabaret director, who was responsible for the work’s selection. Coming from the wilds of Southern California, Ms Flynn could especially relate to and understand the “escapist philosophy” that so permeates the cinematic/media world.

This year’s Yale acting ensemble is particularly talented. Rounding out the cast is David Muse, who plays the beleaguered Michael Majeski; Heather Lea Anderson as Livia Majeski (his wife); and Jason Lindner, who portrays Teddy and another of  the Interviewers.

The energy that pulsates from the production is one of those rare links between fine writing, great directing and fine actors.

The set, by Dan Urlie is also quite creative. When the blinds are raised take a close look at the “fence” beyond the window; there’s more there than one might imagine.

Playing through June 30, Summer Cabaret Shows begin at 8:30 pm with the option to come for dinner, desserts and drinks at 7:00 pm.  All plays at Yale’s Summer Cabaret run Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

The next play, bash, begins July 11 and runs through July 21. It sounds to be another provocative theater experience. Written by Neil LaBute, who is well known for delving into the hidden emotions and thoughts of the average person.  His films — In the Company of Men, Nurse Betty and Your Friends and Neighbors — are some of the more interesting in today’s cinematic world.

Yale resident dramaturg Kate Bredeson will have a challenging opportunity to work with three of the ensemble members in a play that postulates  that “Hell really is other people.” Ms Bredeson has selected the Existentialist Jean-Paul Satre’s No Exit, which will run July 25 to August 4.

The final production will be the highly successful Art, which this reviewer saw several years ago with the original cast in London.  It is a “talking heads” play with a lot of philosophizing and exploration of relationships between men.

Written by  Yasmina Reza, Art was originally largely backed by the actor Sean Connery. The play has been on Broadway and was at another New Haven theatre recently. It has an intimate quality, so it should be quite interesting to see how Yale handles the production, which will be directed by Shannon Flynn and artistic associate Kelly Flynn.

Tickets for all shows are is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors, and $10 for students; group discounts are available. The theatre is at 217 Park Street on the campus of Yale University. For additional information or reservations call 203-432-1567.