Small Craft Warnings, a CurtainUp review

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A CurtainUp Review

Small Craft Warnings
A Most Welcome Second Revival

or a review of the 1999 production go here

Christine McMudo-Wallis & Michael Cannis
(Photo: Carol Rosegg)

Until the worthy Worth Street Theater Company revived Tennesse Williams expanded one-act, Small Craft Warnings last summer it hadn't been seen in New York since its original production in 1972. Now director Jeff Cohen has brought this haunting work back for an open run -- same place, same evocative staging and, for the most part, same cast. Since Les Gutman already reviewed the 1999 production, I will skip the plot details and overall analysis.

The few cast replacements fit in beautifully with the happily reassembled original cast members -- Jim Hazard as Doc, Michael MacCauley as Bill McCorkle and Gerald Anthony, who starred in the company's innovative adaptation of Uncle Vanya (Uncle Jack), as Steve. Christine McMurdo-Wallis repeats her bravura role as Leona, the beautician who lives in a trailer and whose memories of her beloved dead brother are the play's leitmotif. While Small Craft Warnings may be one of Williams' minor works, Leona is right up there with some of his more memorable female characters and Ms. McMurdo-Wallis plays her with breathtaking force.

David Greenspan and Liam Christopher O'Brien
(Photo: Carol Rosegg)

While McMurdo-Wallis has the showiest role, the others for whom Monk's bar is a "confessional" (the title of the one-act which became Warnings) make strong impressions. David Greenspan may not be able to prevent his disillusioned gay screenwriter Quentin from, as Les Gutman put it, "careening into oblivion" However, Greenspan's all too brief presence on stage is unlikely to careen out of your memory. Nor is his mournful monologue about the coarseness of many homosexuals' experience which turns love into an addiction which "is more and more empty of real interest and surprise." Liam Christopher O'Brien is also excellent as Williams' younger alter ego, Quentin's young Iowa pickup date, Bobby. Eliza Pryor Nagel is once again topnotch as the waif-like, spaced out hooker

The monologues given to all eight of the play's characters may not make this "Craft" Williams' sturdiest dramatic vehicle, but I didn't find them as disruptive as Les did. Under Cohen's direction, and abetted by Jon Kusner's sensitive lighting, the freeze-framing of the actors is in fact very effective and reminded me of some scenes in last year's revival of The Iceman Cometh.

Consumer Note: The Tribeca Playhouse is now air conditioned. It's an intimate venue in which even the lowest priced ticket ($15) puts you in a seat that's the equivalent of the best orchestra locations in a Broadway house. And for pre or post dining or snacking, the neighborhood is awash with restaurants.

Be sure to check out our Tennesse Williams page from our -- Author's Album.

SMALL CRAFT WARNINGS
by Tennessee Williams
Directed by Jeff Cohen

Cast (in order of appearance) with Michael Cannis (Monk), Jim Hazard (Doc), Eliza Pryor Nagel (Violet) , Michael McCauley (Bill McCorkle), Cristine McMurdo-Wallis (Leona Dawson), Gerald Anthony (Steve), David Greenspan (Quentin), Liam Christopher O'Brien (Bobby), Justin Donham (Tony the Cop)
Set Design: Larry Brown
Lighting Design: Jon Kusner
Costume Design: Susan L. Soetaert
Running Time: 1 hour and 50 minutes, including a 10-minute intermission
A Worth Street Theater Company production
Tribeca Playhouse, 111 Reade (West Broadway/Church) (212) 604-4195
Performances Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Mondays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m.
Reopened 5/04/2000 for an open run; opening 5/09/200.
Reviewed by Elyse Sommer based on 5/05 performance.

©Copyright, Elyse Sommer, CurtainUp.
Information from this site may not be reproduced in print or online without specific permission from esommer@curtainup.com