The Maternal Instinct

From: "will stackman" profwlll@yahoo.com

Subject: Quicktake - "The Maternal Instinct" by Monica Bauer

Date: Sun, April 2 , 6:49 PM

Quicktake on THE MATERNAL INSTINCT

     The Out of the Blue Co. is currently presenting their annual Actors' Equity Showcase production of a new play at the Boston Playwrights' Theatre. This year it's "The Maternal Instinct" by BPT alumna Monica Bauer. The script began as a 10 minute script called "Ouch" and has grown into a two act full-length play. Still seemingly in development, not all of its scenes seem quite fully grown. Moreover, it's hard to decide whether this is a 21st century family drama with comic moments, or a very dark comedy of contemporary manners.

     The principle characters are a married lesbian couple--this being Massachusetts. Alisha Jansky plays Sarah, a special ed teacher, the wife of Lillian, an ambitious professor of biochemistry at one of our universities, played by Karen Woodward Massey. Sarah wants a baby, Lillian is unalterably opposed. Lillian's sister, Emma, who has two kids of her own, played by Rena Baskin, has been conspiring with Sarah to find a donor. Eventually this role falls to Lillian's friend and mentor, Fred, the head of her department, played by Stephen Cooper. Each member of this unlikely menage a trois has an encounter in the Public Garden with an incoherent drunken woman whose vocabulary consisted mostly of the word "Ouch." Played by Elise Manning,this homeless souse, who is also pregnant, provides a catalyst for the final action, or so it seems. Like many current scripts, things are left rather up in the air as the lights fade out for the last time.

     Production values on a set by Loann West are basic but sufficient. A full-scale production for this 13 scene play might require a revolve and a small side wagon, but this version survives without them. The ensemble acquits itself well under Melissa J. Wentworth's direction, going for realistic rather than comic timing in most cases. The viewpoint of the play does veer from almost satirical to realistic emotions with no clear line of action, however. Still, the social problems it explores, and the deeper question of how family background influences adult relationships, are interestingly developed, worth attention--and further rewrites.

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"The Maternal Instinct" by Monica Bauer, March 30 - April 16

Out of the Blue Theatre Co. at Boston Playwrights' Theatre

949 Comm. Ave. Allston, (866) 811 - 4111
Out of the Blue