Can you retrieve your passion, once you have sold out for fame? This is the essential question in David Margulies' excellent work, Sight Unseen, now being staged by Town Players of Newtown.Performances continue weekends through August 13.Curtain is 8 pm Friday and Saturday, and 2 pm Sundays, June 12 and 19.Tickets are $22 for the evening shows, $18 for the matinees, and can be reserved by calling 203-270-9144 or at newtownplayers.org.

Outrageously successful artist Jonathan Waxman (played by Christopher Cooney) is so popular his work is purchased sight unseen by his legions of fans. He has a waiting list! Yet when his gallery showing opens in London, he finds his way back to his early love, and muse, Patricia (Stefanie Woerdeman).

Patricia now resides in the British countryside with her older, and perhaps wiser, dear husband Nick (Philip Cook). Together they unearth ancient treasures which Patricia catalogs. Theirs is a humble life of modest means. Dull by Jonathan's standards. Just enough, by their own.

Jonathan painted Patricia while in college. Their connection was "electric," she "could see the sparks."

Jonathan, now married with a wife who is expecting their first child, is lost in a world of commercialism which he must justify and protect to maintain his lifestyle and celebrity.

While being interviewed by German journalist Grete (Karen Pope), Jonathan finds himself on the defensive, as she questions his artistic integrity.

"Is popularity a truly American phenomenon?" she asks him. It is an interesting question.

Under the beautiful direction of Sherry Asch, this play is wry and humorous, as the characters achingly search for truth and beauty in their lives.

Christopher Cooney's turn in a serious role of a man in crisis, who has learned not to dig to deep, is moving. His character writhes against what he himself has wrought.

The humble Nick is portrayed with a heartfelt honesty and droll wit, accomplished with just the raising of an eyebrow. Philip Cook offers an elegant, rich performance.

Playing the erstwhile love interest, Stefanie Woerdeman is superb. Ms Woerdeman permeates Patty with a keen understanding of her world and where she fits in to it. She is an educated actor with exceptional skill.

Karen Pope plays her edgy journalist with a perfect German accent, as she innocuously, or not, guides Jonathan to a place he does not want to go. Ms Pope is simply perfection in this role.

The remarkable talent all of these performers bring to this play, about the choices everyone makes in life and how they come to face them, results in a magnificent night of theater.

The set is beautifully done to seamlessly accommodate the various locations. This is a well thought out and executed set, once again designed by Tim Huebenthal.

Do not miss this, the story is powerful. It will make you laugh and give you pause. This is what great theater is all about.

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