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The director Stuart Howard has a very gentle and precise hand with this piece. The sexual tension between the wife and the friend is very subtle and each action and touch is almost erotic in it's lightness and smallness. After the climax of the first act, tragedy strikes with the death of the husband. Although it is an accident, the wife believes her wish to be murder. She accepts the responsiblity of preparing his body for buriel and commences cleaning him. During the process, even though he is dead, she confronts him and comes to term with their relationship. It is at once tender and unbearably painful that her hatred toward him seems to fade away as the lights finally fade. Julia Coffey's powerful performance as the wife, Mrs. Holroyd, is one of the best I've seen.
The Mint Theatre is a beautiful little blackbox on West 43rd, between 8th & 9th Avenues. It's on the 3rd floor of the unassuming office building at 311 West 43rd. I was there a couple of years ago for some other play. Marion Williams' simple set design for this production seemed to transform the entire space. A wonderful extra touch to the spare set was a trough filled with coal surrounding the stage. The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd has been extended through April 5th. Discounts are available at www.broadwaybox.com.
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