DAN’S PAPERS
Page 80 June 15, 2012
danshamptons.com
MY FAIR LADY
ART COMMENTARY
Review of the Gateway Playhouse production
The Landmarks of New York at the Parrish Art Museum
LUV Reigns at Guild Hall in East Hampton for him. LUV’s one-liners are complemented by the raw f you trust the Beatles, then it appears that physical comedy – all three actors (including Milt’s “Love is all you need.� And, in fact, the three wife Ellen, deftly played by Jennifer Regan) throw characters in LUV, a comedy on stage at Guild Hall, themselves at the stage, and the set includes a large seem to abide by the oft-quoted song lyrics. But, like sand box perfect for, say, casually tossing sand the spelling of the play, the notion of “love� in each in despair or wrestling a knife out of a potential actor’s mind is perverted and twisted, maimed by a murderer’s hand. To that point, after a nice depressing and dramatic desire to find happiness and hindered by a hysterical talk from Harry, Milt soon reveals how miserable he inability to understand how to do so. truly is. His manic descriptions of his LUV opens as Harry Berlin, played idyllic life are a farce, for he is in love by Kahan James, gazes longingly off of with a woman who isn’t his wife. And a bridge. He is seriously contemplating Ellen refuses to give him a divorce. jumping. Moments later, Milt Manville, Milt admits that he came to this New played by Robert Stanton, enters the York alleyway to kill Ellen so that he scene. As Milt paces around, digging can be with his new gal Linda. through the trash – which we later Despite the underlying tragedy in learn is a second job for the selfhis life, Milt assures Harry that he proclaimed successful businessman still believes that happiness is only – he recognizes Harry as an old a divorce away – that he will be schoolmate. Oblivious to Harry’s Kahan James and Jennifer Regan satisfied, if only he were allowed to be true intentions that night, Milt excitedly gloats about how great it is to see his classmate, and with Linda. And, Harry’s suicidal notions will fade if he goes on to explain how fantastic his life has been he too has someone to love. So, a plan forms – Harry will fall in love with Ellen, since graduating 15 years ago. Harry responds with a series of explanations of and Milt will be able to marry Linda. But, as expected, this perfect arrangement has how he has lost all will to live. James, who replaced Ricardo Chavira of “Desperate Housewives� fame, more than a few glitches. The speed with which Harry and Ellen meet and only a week ago, manages to control the dichotomy between tragedy and comedy so that the audience decide to marry is ludicrous, but they believe in can laugh at Harry’s plight while still feeling sorry their decision nonetheless. Romantics are inclined
By kelly laffey
Gary Mamay
I
Dan's Papers_v2 Jun 8_Bay ST 6/7/12 8:27 AM Page 1
PHOTO: JERRY LAMONICA
Polly Draper in
My Brilliant Divorce
¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ 32:(5%2$7 32:(5%2$7 5(17$/6 5(17$/6
By Geraldine Aron Directed by Matt McGrath
Daily, Weekly & 6WDUWLQJ DW MXVW Monthly Rentals
“Absolutely, positively brilliant‌â€? – SOUTHAMPTON PRESS
As seen on
Leno, Letterman, Ferguson, Conan!
LUV, directed by Lonny Price and starring Kahan James, Jennifer Regan and Robert Stanton, will be at Guild Hall through July 1. 158 Main Street, East Hampton. 631-324-0806, www.guildhall.org. $38-$85.
2QH ZD\ RU SHUKDSV WKH EHVW ZD\ WR Treat Dad & the Family to HQMR\ WKH (DVW (QG RI /RQJ ,VODQG a Day On The Water! ,6 21 7+( :$7(5
Now Playing through June 24!
Comedy Mondays
to feel that this is enough – that a belief in love is all it takes to glean success. The first act ends with the characters’ decision to play musical chairs with their respective personal lives. But the audience is left with the sneaking suspicion that our characters are not about to spend the rest of their lives strolling down love lane. Though the first act feels a bit drawn out at times, perhaps because the underlying theme of misery is apparent from the beginning and the audience is eager to see how the characters deal with it, the second is much more snappy and surprising. LUV premiered in 1964, earning a Tony nod for best play in 1965. Guild Hall’s revival uses a minimal set, focusing on the pure comedic abilities of the three actors. The play challenges our beliefs about what love really is. Obviously, no one comes into the show with personal ideals that love is always an easy path – that’s simply called naivety. But when should a hard road lead to divorce, and when should it be disregarded as simply a rough patch that two lovers will overcome? Are some people hardwired to confuse “lustâ€? with “love,â€? only to discard the significant other at a whim? And, ultimately, how does love correlate with happiness?
GD\
BIG and TALL Bruce Vilanch & Judy Gold
,QTXLUH DERXW RXU ¨ 6HD 5D\ DYDLODEOH IRU &XVWRP &KDUWHUV
Saturday, June 30 at 8 pm
The Ivy League of Comedy
6HH 8V DW WKH *UHHQSRUW ,Q :DWHU %RDW 6KRZ -XQH WK
Happy Father’s Day!
Monday, June 18
Gift CertiďŹ cates Available (GJH:DWHU 6HD )R[ 3UH 2ZQHG %RDWV 2Q 'LVSOD\
Shaun Eli
Myq Kaplan
Joe DeVito
8 pm Tickets: $25
Dan Naturman
Tickets: $65-$75 or $100 includes after party with the stars!
Call now for tickets!
631-725-9500 www.baystreet.org
Meetinghouse i Creek Rd, Aquebogue, North Fork, NY 0HHWLQJKRXVH &UHHN 5G $TXHERJXH 1RUWK )RUN 1< 631-722-3400 Lighthouseboatrentals.com
All programming subject to change.
14799
/LJWKKRXVH0DULQD FRP
16718
16494