Monday, February 14, 2011

Theater Review: Black Tie

(L to R) Ari Brand as Teddy, Carolyn McCormick as Mimi, Elvy Yost
as Else, Gregg Edelman as Curtis and Daniel Davis as Curtis’s Father. Photo Credit: James Leynse
It’s The Old Generation's Way of Thinking vs. New
By Lauren Yarger
Just how much do our parents, living or dead, influence our behavior and thinking? That’s the question A.R. Gurney asks in his new play, Black Tie, just extended for a third time Off Broadway at Primary Stages.

Curtis (Gregg Edelman) is preparing to make the toast at the rehearsal dinner for his son’s wedding, and has had his father’s old tuxedo tailored for the occasion (Jess Goldstein, costumes). He gets some tips on how to wear it correctly and how to charm the guests at the dinner from and unexpected source -- the ghost of his father (Daniel Davis).

Curtis’ wife, Mimi (Carolyn McCormick), isn’t sure the tux is a good idea (call them evening clothes, the ghost who has an opinion on everything, corrects, heard only by Curtis). Her son, Teddy (Ari Brand) and his wife-to-be, Maya (not seen), are more modern and she’s not sure the formal black tie look is what they really want. Besides, ever since he put the jacket on, she thinks Curtis has been sounding more and more like his father.

Suddenly Teddy’s sister, Elsie (Elvy Yost), arrives at their hotel room to report a problem (designed by John Arnone, the high-ceilinged, paneled room looks more like a hotel lobby than guest quarters) . There might be a last-minute guest for the dinner, disrupting all of the place-card arranging that she and her mother already have already done. Sure enough, the guest, a stand-up comic called Seymour, shows up and offers to do his routine as a gift for Maya, who happens to be his ex. Besides throwing a curve to Teddy on the eve of his wedding, the comedian’s stand-up, which includes complete music and video segments, could mean there won’t be time to include Curtis’ toast.

Gurney’s script, directed by Mark Lamos, is full of humor, particularly an escalating “just-when-you-thought-it-couldn’t-get-any-worse” kind when it comes to issues with the bride and her family. Apparently the bride isn’t happy with the way Teddy’s more conservative parents influence him, or with the “snooty” way they have treated her and her parents. The wedding might not take place, unless Curtis, prompted by his father, who was prompted by his father, can help Teddy decide whether or not he really loves Maya. But times have changed since Curtis’ father was around. Can he and Curtis find a way to embrace the thinking of a more modern Teddy who would prefer to wear an Obama T-shirt and jacket to his wedding instead of the traditional and more formal black tie?

It’s a light and fun new offering from the celebrated Gurney with a few more political digs than are needed, but with enough laughs tied around some thoughtful insights to entertain for 90 minutes. And don’t miss Davis, who is particularly good as the ghost continually looking over Curtis' shoulder. John Gromada provides nice original music and sound design, too.

Black Tie is extended through March 27 at 59E59 Theaters, 59 East 59th St., NYC. For tickets call 212-840-9705, ext. 219 or visit www.primarystages.org.

Christians might also like to know:
 Lord’s name taken in vain
 Language
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Our reviews are professional reviews written without a religious bias. At the end of them, you can find a listing of language, content or theological issues that Christians might want to know about when deciding which shows to see.

** Mature indicates that the show has posted an advisory because of content. Usually this means I would recommend no one under the age of 16 attend.

Theater Critic Lauren Yarger

Theater Critic Lauren Yarger

My Bio

Lauren Yarger has written, directed and produced numerous shows and special events for both secular and Christian audiences. She co-wrote a Christian musical version of “A Christmas Carol” which played to sold-out audiences of over 3,000 in Vermont and was awarded the Vermont Bessie (theater and film awards) for “People’s Choice for Theatre.” She also has written two other dinner theaters, sketches for church services and devotions for Christian artists. Her play concept, "From Reel to Real: The Jennifer O'Neill Story" was presented as part of the League of professional Theatre Women's Julia's reading Room Series in New York. Shifting from reviewing to producing, Yarger owns Gracewell Productions, which produced the Table Reading Series at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT. She trained for three years in the Broadway League’s Producer Development Program, completed the Commercial Theater Institute's Producing Intensive and other training and produced a one-woman musical about Mary Magdalene that toured nationally and closed with an off-Broadway run. She was a Fellow at the National Critics Institute at the O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. She wrote reviews of Broadway and Off-Broadway theater (the only ones you can find in the US with an added Christian perspective) at http://reflectionsinthelight.blogspot.com/.

She is editor of The Connecticut Arts Connection (http://ctarts.blogspot.com), an award-winning website featuring theater and arts news for the state. She was a contributing editor for BroadwayWorld.com. She previously served as theater reviewer for the Manchester Journal-Inquirer, Connecticut theater editor for CurtainUp.com and as Connecticut and New York reviewer for American Theater Web.

She is a Co-Founder of the Connecticut Chapter of the League of Professional Theatre Women. She is a former vice president and voting member of The Drama Desk.

She is a freelance writer and playwright (member Dramatists Guild of America). She is a member if the The Outer Critics Circle (producer of the annual awards ceremony) and a member of The League of Professional Theatre Women, serving as Co-Founder of the Connecticut Chapter. Yarger was a book reviewer for Publishers Weekly A former newspaper editor and graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, Yarger also worked in arts management for the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and served for nine years as the Executive Director of Masterwork Productions, Inc. She lives with her husband in West Granby, CT. They have two adult children.

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All material is copyright 2008- 2024 by Lauren Yarger. Reviews and articles may not be reprinted without permission. Contact reflectionsinthelight@gmail.com

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Key to Content Notes:

God's name taken in vain -- means God or Jesus is used in dialogue without speaking directly to or about them.

Language -- means some curse words are used. "Minor" usually means the words are not too strong or that it only occurs once or twice throughout the show.

Strong Language -- means some of the more heavy duty curse words are used.

Nudity -- means a man or woman's backside, a man's lower front or a woman's front are revealed.

Scantily clad -- means actors' private areas are technically covered, but I can see a lot of them.

Sexual Language -- means the dialogue contains sexually explicit language but there's no action.

Sexual Activity -- means a man and woman are performing sexual acts.

Adultery -- Means a married man or woman is involved sexually with someone besides their spouse. If this is depicted with sexual acts on stage, the list would include "sexual activity" as well.

Sex Outside of Marriage -- means a man and woman are involved sexually without being married. If this is depicted sexually on stage, the list would include "sexual activity" as well.

Homosexuality -- means this is in the show, but not physically depicted.

Homosexual activity -- means two persons of the same sex are embracing/kissing. If they do more than that, the list would include "sexual activity" as well.

Cross Dresser -- Means someone is dressing as the opposite sex. If they do more than that on stage the listing would include the corresponding "sexual activity" and/or "homosexual activity" as well.

Cross Gender -- A man is playing a female part or a woman is playing a man's part.

Suggestive Dancing -- means dancing contains sexually suggestive moves.

Derogatory (category added Fall 2012) Language or circumstances where women or people of a certain race are referred to or treated in a negative and demeaning manner.

Other content matters such as torture, suicide, or rape will be noted, with details revealed only as necessary in the review itself.

The term "throughout" added to any of the above means it happens many times throughout the show.

Reviewing Policy

I receive free seats to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows made available to all voting members of the Outer Critics Circle. Journalistically, I provide an unbiased review and am under no obligation to make positive statements. Sometimes shows do not make tickets available to reviewers. If these are shows my readers want to know about I will purchase a ticket. If a personal friend is involved in a production, I'll let you know, but it won't influence a review. If I feel there is a conflict, I won't review their portion of the production.

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