Quick Hit Theater Review: Go Back to Where You Are

Go Back to Where You Are
Playwrights Horizons
By David Greenspan
Director: Leigh Silverman

Summary: An ancient Greek, Passalus(David Greenspan, is sent back to present-day Long Island with the purpose of helping one particular woman, but finds himself having an effect on her relatives instead. He also finds himself having long-thought-dead feelings for one of them. Will this gathering of theater folk result in an end to a 2,000-year purgatory?

Highlights: Mary Shultz is entertaining as Charlotte, the clumsy, insecure actress who pales in comparison with her "friend" Claire (Lisa Banes), who enjoys putting her down when she's retracted her claws long enough from emotionally wounding her brother, Bernard (Brian Hutchinson), who is the object of Passalus' affection. Greenspan includes a number of funny lines about the theater and the playwrighting process.

Lowlights: The story of gay folks searching for fulfillment (Tim Hopper and Stephen Bogardus play partners who are Claire's friends and Michael Izquierdo is Claire's gay son and complete the ensemble) in the shadow of an uncaring, irrational God (also played by Hopper)with women portrayed as stupid or shrew-like is nothing new. This one plays more like the playwright's desire to share some personal insights while showing himself in an adorably witty light rather than as a story that appeals to a general audience.

Information: Go Back to Where You Are plays at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Playwrights Horizons, 416 West 42nd St., NYC. For tickets, call 212-279-4200 or visit http://www.playwrightshorizons.org/.

Christians might also like to know:

•Language
•Sexual dialogue
•Homosexual activity