"No Politics" et al.

From: "will stackman" profwlll@yahoo.com

Subject: Quicktake - "No Politics!" by Patrick Brennan

Date: Sat, Feb 4, 11:21 PM

Quicktake on NO POLITICS

     The second play in the Theatre Coop's annual developmental series, Patrick Brennan's "No Politics" had a workshop production this Friday and Saturday. It's a promising family comedy with more than a little touch of sit-com. Jack (Christopher Mack), who runs the Website for a local PBS station and his wife Amy(Elizabeth Brunette), who also works have just found out she's pregnant after eight years of marriage. Her father, Arthur Riley(Peter Brown), who manages a McDonald's and his second wife, Carol(Katheryne Holland) are coming over to dinner. They're Reagan Republicans, Jack and Amy are vegetarian Democrats. Amy's mother, Arthur's first wife Diane (Debbie Friedlander) is also coming over. She's also a Republican. It's the eve of the Iraq War. Both Amy and Carol have made their husbands promise "No Politics."

     At present Brennan's play has a good start on character and tone, an interesting premise which pits family relationships against political viewpoints, and a lot of plot potential. As a one act it's bursting at the seams and needs to expand into a two act comedy with an occasional moment for reflection. The experienced cast under Daniel Bourque's direction did a respectable job with the material in its current form.

     This year's series began with Linda Carmichael's drama, "Life's Morsel" last month, and on Feb. 17 & 18, George Matry Masselem's "Beating Death" gets its chance. The Coop's regular season continues in March with Katherine Thatcher's "Voices of Good Hope", about Congresswoman Barbara Jordan with Michelle Dowd taking that role. The season will finish with another play by Vladimir Zelevinsky, the premiere of "Manifest Destiny", a play about immigration. Zelevinsky's earlier plays at the Coop were developed in the same process that the three this year are undergoing.

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"No Politics!" by Patrick Brennan, Feb.3-4

Theatre Cooperative at Peabody House,

277 Broadway, Somerville, (617) 625 - 1300
Theatre Cooperative