THEY NAMED US MARY

From: "will stackman" profwlll@yahoo.com

Subject: Quicktake - "They Named Us Mary" by Lyralen Kaye

Date: Fri, Jan 27, 11:39 PM e

Quicktake on THEY NAMED US MARY

     "They Named Us Mary", which ran in 2004 with its author, Lyralen Kaye, in the lead, is back again with Kaye again playing the oldest of five sisters named Mary, Mary Clare. The play still attempts to combine a bitter domestic drama with fantasy elements. Whether these moments should be described as expressionist or symbolist or even surreal is debatable. In any case, the script is still an uneasy mix of the main character's dream images and rather trite scenes with her dysfunctional siblings and their domineering mother shortly after the death of their father. The acting, which aspires to Meisner's interpretation of the Method made infamous by Actor's Studio, is uneven at best. The cast, Diane DeCoste (Maria, the mother), Emily Evans (Mary Grace, the good one), Steve Falcone (the father's ghost, etc), Angela Gunn (Mary Margaret, the party girl), Bertie Payne-Strange (Mary Anne, the kid), and Christina Wolfskehl (Mary Teresa, the rebel), never finds a common ground. Moreover, there's never really as sense of place--Pittsburgh--or the period--the 1980's??.

     While the situation is potentially interesting, the drawn out revelations are more like a soap opera than a drama. The material needs to be tightened into a forty or fifty minute--or shorter-- one-act played on a unit set without tedious scene changes. It will probably be made into a low budget independent film instead, which actually might bring the circumstances into better focus. The unfortunate situation of abused children has become a dramatic commonplace. When combined with substance abuse and religious hypocrisy the play quickly turns melodramatic. Director Courtney O'Connor has tried to integrate the elements of the show, but minimal funding and problems of pace make for a tedious time.

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"They Named Us Mary" by Lyralen Kaye, Jan.26 - Feb.12

Another Country Productions at Boston Playwrights' Theatre

949 Comm. Ave. Allston, (866) 411 - 8111
Another Country