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The Last of the Red Hot Lovers by Neil Simon
Presented by STAG (Strathmore Theatrical Arts Group)
Directed by Kris Weber
Reviewed by John Gunn Applause Applause, Friday, March 3 1999
Cast: Robert Urban, Kristine Rawlinson, Carolyn Cusack, Margaret Rawlinson.
'Barney Cashman' is now 39, has been married for 21 years to his childhood sweetheart, Thelma with his only non-marital sexual adventure being with a 44 year old prostitute for some 15 minutes when he was a boy of 16. Barney owns a successful fish restaurant, has no vices but with 40 fast approaching, he gets the urge to have a fling.
The play in 3 acts concentrates on Barney's attempts to commit adultery, the setting is his mother's small apartment in 37th Street, New York. His mother does social work, visiting elderly people during the day - consequently her apartment is empty until 5 o'clock of an afternoon.
Reminiscent of 'Plaza Suite' and 'California Suite', each act introduces us to a new woman and is almost self contained - the thread of continuity being Barney's emotions and his conclusions. Time, I guess, is somewhere in the 1970's.
In act I we meet a very nervous Barney and 'Elaine' who eats at his fish restaurant and whom he has invited up to his mother's apartment for an amorous liaison. She is a rather ballsy young female, desperate for a cigarette … all does not go well.
Act II introduces us to 'Bobbie Michele', a would be Broadway baby who Barney met in the park. She has a vivid imagination and a penchant for getting involved with some very strange characters.
With two failed seductions behind him, Barney tries it on with family friend, the 45 year old 'Jeanette'; now she has a problem in that her husband has been having an affair with her best friend and as a result she is suffering from acute depression; this is probably the most serious of the 3 stories and the one that allows Barney to see that the other man's grass is not always greener.
STAG, under the very able direction of Kris Weber, has given us a well acted production that in the main was pacy with good comedy timing, generally well moved and cleanly characterized with costumes being appropriate for the period. Where the production fell down was in the technical area; poor sound, bad lighting and unimaginative set design and décor. STAG have been making great strides in choice of play and acting standards but really need to look seriously at the technical aspects of production.
Now to the cast: Robert Urban gave an excellent performance as Barney - he looked right, had plenty of energy and a good accent - was at times, serious, hapless and worked with very good timing; the audience warmed to him despite his attempts at adultery.
Kristine Rawlinson as the ballsy 'Elaine' gave an energetic and solid reading of the character but pushed it a little far on occasion - a little more light and shade in the character would have helped round it out.
Carolyn Cusack as the wacky 'Bobbie' was more successful and worked the role well - a finely tuned performance.
Margaret Rawlinson as the older 'Jeanette' had what I thought was the most difficult of the roles and I felt in the main she handled its emotional complexities well - however, she was let down by some poor and repetitive blocking.
To sum up, a well acted and good production of a play that is perhaps a little over long but one with appeal for those who enjoy Neil Simon's works.
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