CurtainUp
The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features,
Annotated Listings
| |
CurtainUp The Internet Theater Magazine of Reviews, Features,
Annotated Listings |
|
A CurtainUp DC Review
Junk
Leading the pack of despicable characters is Robert Merkin, performed with great conviction by the well-cast Thomas Keegan, whose only redeeming moment is when he cradles his infant son. Merkin is based on the real life creator of junk bonds, Michael Milken, who served a short (given the number of lives he impacted negatively) prison sentence, before turning his energies towards such philanthropic ventures as prostate cancer and melanoma research. Merkin's wife, Amy, played with a viscous intensity by Shanara Gabrielle, is equally venal, if not more so. When her husband's fortunes go south she divorces him. Merkin's amenuesis, Boris Pronsky, is a stockbroker, an inside trader who, on demand from the junk-sellers (who use Moby Dick as their code) can make a stock rise or fall by several points. The part is based on the legendary Ivan Boesky who turned state's evidence (as does Pronsky), went to jail, found religion, and got a huge divorce settlement from his very wealthy former wife. Actor Elan Zafir, whose work locally has been far too limited -- this guy is good -- gives an almost endearing performance. He's the schlub who makes you forget that what he is doing is criminal. His hair is a mess, his clothes are a mess, he resists probity until it is in his interest to spill the beans in favor of a lesser prison sentence. Into this mix, Aktar throws Judy Chen (Nancy Sun, barely audible at times, and lacking in emotion). She is an ambitious journalist who is looking for a book idea. She knows she's on to something as she covers the rise of Merkin et. al. but she too is ultimately compromised by a wise-ass lawyer who knows how, with a lucrative bribe, to coerce her. None of the above is good company but what Akhtar (an avid reader of the Wall Street Journal according to one interview) has very cleverly done is set the conflicts in motion swiftly. The results are entertaining and alarming. The audience audibly gasped as Merkin reneged on the promise he made to an investor and they laughed nervously when Merkin turned his thoughts to real estate. Look at all that potential he said to his lawyer. Well, the lawyer answered, not the post office, that's owned by the government. The line went over well in Washington because what was the Federal Post Office Building here is now the Trump Hotel. Representing the good guys is Ed Gero as Thomas Everson Jr., the third generation president of a family business. His first loyalty is to his employees not the stockholders but in spite of his best efforts he is unable to prevent a hostile takeover. Gero gives a very fine performance as the most sympathetic character in the play. Because Arena Stage is four-sided, director Jackie Maxwell has the actors address the audience rather than each other. That helps audibility of course but it seems strange to watch. Misha Kachman's set serves best when four oblong tables lit by Jason Lyons to a stark white are put together in a geometric formation representing a restaurant or plank in a prison cell. Judith Bowden's costumes are straightforward Brooks Brothers or Brioni -- it even says so in the script -- and for the women, power dressing -- even while, in the case of Mrs. Merkin, breast feeding. The other characters (there are 24 of them, with a mediocre supporting cast) present other aspects of the many conflicts inherent in the junk bond era. Things aren't what they used to be, such as the old-shoe WASP establishment that shunned the arrival into their business environment of Jews and women, gets a mention or two. But the play, in essence, is a horror story. At two hours, it is much too long because after about 90 intermission-less minutes in the company of these horrible people, you are ready for the comforts of home and a stiff drink. < |
PRODUCTION NOTES Junk by Ayad Akhtar Directed by Jackie Maxwell Cast: Elliott Bales (Union Rep/Corrigan Wiley/Fight Captain); Nicholas Baroudi (Giuseppe Addesso); Lise Bruneau (Maximilien Cizik); Jaben Early (Kevin Walsh); Amanda Forstrom (Charlene Stewart/Lawyer); Shanara Gabrielle (Amy Merkin): Edward Gero (thomas Everson, Jr. ); Michael Glenn (Mark O'Hare/Curt); Dylan Jackson (Devon Atkins/Waiter); Kashayna Johnson (Jacquiline Blount); Thomas Keegan (Robert Merkin); David Andrew Macdonald (Leo Tresler); Jonathan David Martin (Israel Peterman) ; Michael Russotto (Murray Lefkowitz/Maitre d'/Counsel); Nancy Sun (Judy Chen); Perry Young (Raul Rivera); Elan Zafir (Boris Pronsky). Set Designed by Misha Kachman Costume Design by Judith Bowden Lighting Design by Jason Lyons Running time: 2 hours, no intermission Arena Stage/Fichandler, 1101 Sixth Street, SW, Washington, DC; April 5 to May 5, 2019 Reviewed by Susan Davidson at April 11, 2019 performance. REVIEW FEEDBACK Highlight one of the responses below and click "copy" or"CTRL+C"
Paste the highlighted text into the subject line (CTRL+ V): Feel free to add detailed comments in the body of the email. . .also the names and emails of any friends to whom you'd like us to forward a copy of this review. For a feed to reviews and features as they are posted at http://curtainupnewlinks.blogspot.com to your reader Curtainup at Facebook . . . Curtainup at Twitter |
