A COWBOY - STEALS YOUR HEART,
AT CUSTOM MADE WINTER SERIES
“Late: A Cowboy Song” an early work by Sarah Ruhl, known for “The Vibrator Play” and “In the Next Room” is one of the country’s top playwrights. It’s a poetic 90 min three-character gender bending story about a couple, more so about the women. The wife, lost and lonely, is drawn toward a cowboy on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, who happens to also be women.
The Custom Made Theatre production is very well produced an acted. The cowgirl, croons tunes to the moon while missing her guitar (my only issue with the production) Laura Preston, as Red, creates a county charm, and bluesy voice of crooning.
Brian Martin as the husband, the controlling threatened male , and Mary the wife played by Maria Leigh discovers herself through her friendship with Red. The young couple have been friends since second grade, and they’re still childlike with each other. Director Ariel Craft keeps the first act moving and her actors almost in a ballet around the small set, pushing her actors away from childhood to the adults they become - Ruhls intention.
Brian Martin is well cast as the sometimes childish roller coaster husband. He has great passion in the role to control his wife. Maria Leigh as his wife is also excellent and well teamed with Red, wonderfully played by Laura Preston. The speed and romp of the young couple in the first act reminds me of a fine ballet as they twist around the small set - all so well directed by Ariel Craft.
Ruhl gives soul to Red, dressed in cowboy colors and played well by Preston. Leighs’ performance as Mary is excellent, her ups and downs fit Ruhl’s guest for gender questions.
As always Ruhl has this topic cornered - like a poetic muse and the class to add a young at heart adventure discovering who we are - no matter what sex.
Late: A Cowboy Song. by Sarah Ruhl’s. Directed by Ariel Craft. Runs 90 minutes no act break - Jan. 10-Feb. 1, Thurs-Sat 8:00 pm; Sun 7:00. Tickets $20-50 with discounts for Students, Seniors. Gough Street Playhouse, 1620 Gough Street, San Francisco. (415) 798-CMTC, www.custommade.org
No comments:
Post a Comment