The Outgoing Tide at 59E59

I was fortunate enough to catch Bruce Graham's "The Outgoing Tide" at 59E59 last weekend.   This is the play's New York premier.

Starring Michael Learned, Peter Strauss and Ian Lithgow, "The Outgoing Tide" a dramedy about a family stuck in a mire of indeciviness about change being forced upon them.

Peter Strauss, in a truly brilliant performance, plays rough yet surprisingly tender Gunner who is suffering from dimentia.  I was absolutely blown away by his performance.   His wife Peg, played beautifully and subtly by Michael Learned, is grasping at her rope's end and is trying to make things easier for both of them while wading in a little bit of denial.   Their grown son Jack, played by Ian Lithgow, is dealing with his own issues, both with being a father and coming to terms with his relationship with his own father.

I found the play to be very funny while being realistic, even while it tackled the sad and all too prevalent topic of aging parents.   At first, I was taken aback by the crassness of Gunner, but I found myself agreeing with him, cheering for him and even crying for him.   His character is brave and realistic.   I could see my own mother in Peg, in her wanting to take care of her husband, even in her denial of the seriousness of his condition.   I was slightly reminded of "On Golden Pond," but without the angst.  

It's beautiful one set production with lovely lighting.  Dirk Durossette was on board for scenic design, while lighting was by James Leitner.   The smoothly run show is directed by Bud Martin.  The producer is  Delaware Theatre Company.

Tickets are available online via Ticket Central or by calling 212-279-4200.  59E59 Theaters is at 59 East 59th Street between Madison and Park Avenues.  It's running until December 16th and is well worth a viewing.

The Body Politic

On Sunday morning, before I went to the office, I was catching up the tweets of my friends.  I was intrigued especially by Adam Rothenberg's tweet linking to his interview with Leslie Hendrix at his wonderful blog Adaumbelle's Quest.

Anybody who reads my blog regularly knows that I'm a Law & Order devotee.  One of the greatest things about living in New York where the original (and still Law & Order SVU and Law & Order Criminal Intent) filmed is the opportunity to see many of its amazing actors on the stage.  Leslie Hendrix plays "Rodgers," the dry medical examiner.  

When my boss dismissed me for the day, I printed a BroadwayBox.com discount for The Body Politic and took advantage of the proximity of 59E59 Theatres to my office building, a mere block away.   I could have gone home to rest, but nothing is more relaxing to me than losing myself in a dark theatre for a few hours. 

What I expected to be a political drama turned out to be a much needed light romantic comedy about the behinds the scenes of two presidential campaigns.  The cast Matthew Boston, Eve Danzeisen, Brian Dykstra, Leslie Hendrix, Daren Kelly, and Michael Puzzo.  

I was completely charmed by the opposites-attract scenario between two of the staffers, the manipulation of each other and their candidates and co-staffers, even cross-camp manipulations.    What starts out as just an attraction leads to more in the end, on several levels.   The characters are funny, including the two presidential candidates, one clearly a Southerner.   There is a really funny bedroom scene, that's pretty sexy too. Leslie Hendrix plays a tough, sharped tongue professional and she's fun to watch in action.  It's a look at the right and the left, ideological differences and even how things really aren't that different between the two parties.   The ending was so sweet and unexpected that I even dab my eyes. 

And guess what?  No surprises, I'm sure, that most of the cast has been on Law & Order.  The Body Politic, written by Richard Abrons and Margarett Perry, who also directs, is an At Hand Theatre Company production.  The play runs is a through March 6th at 59E59 Theatres.