There’s
nothing wrong with a small play that has modest goals. God knows it beats some
of the gargantuan productions that aim high and fall miserably short. Still,
sometimes a play can be a bit too small and coy for its own good.
Such
is the case with Body Awareness, now
at the Beck Center. Set in a small town in Vermont this play by Annie Baker
focuses on a middle-aged lesbian couple, Phyllis and Joyce, and Joyce’s son and would-be-etymologist Jared who has some form of Asperger’s Syndrome. Phyllis, a
strong-willed feminist, is in the midst of leading a week-long “Body Awareness
Week” at the local college where she teaches.
As
the play works its way through the week (and the play's non-too-subtle premise), we see how Jared torments his mother
and Phyllis with his Asperger’s-triggered attitudinal issues. He’s blunt and
aggressive, not aware of how his words impact others, but Joyce quietly
perseveres as she tries to make their home a pleasant and loving space.
During
the week, one of the guest lecturers Frank arrives, to stay in the same house
for a couple days. Phyllis is instantly bent out of shape because she learns
that he takes nude photographs of females, of various ages. Her sudden distaste
for his artistic endeavors feels forced and odd. In any case, the various issues
of “body awareness” are neatly arrayed—Jared trapped in his
not-quite-functional body, Joyce and Phyllis trying to work out their same-sex
relationship, and (sleazy?) Frank hanging around and inserting himself in their
discussions.
Playwright
Baker is a deft writer and there are a number of chuckles to be found in the
play, but it all feels a bit too contrived. And director David Vegh doesn’t use
his talented cast in the best ways possible. As Joyce, Anne McEvoy seems to
float a bit too high above the events swirling around her, while Julia Kolibab
comes off as a bit fuzzy and indistinct as Phyllis. Phyllis’ mini-lectures at
college, which punctuate each of the days of the week, should be funnier than
they are. Plus, there is little sexual (or any other) chemistry between these
two characters. Since McEvoy and Kolibab are exceptionally talented actors, it
appears that Vegh was unable to help them find their characters’ sweet spot in
this fragile work.
The
same is true with Rick Montgomery Jr. as Frank, who appears out of the blue and
never rings true as either a photographer or a mystical purveyor of wisdom (a
non-Jew, he insists on leading a Friday evening Sabbath service earlier in the
week).
Richie
Gagen is strong and funny as Jared, perhaps because his character exists
outside the conventional grid of family relationships. Jared is always saying
unexpected things, and Gagen makes them amusing while retaining the inherent
humanity of the young man.
Since
too many of the scenes are meandering and slow, the 90-minute one-act feels
longer than it’s actual run time. This is a show that needs to be performed
with crisp timing, not with the casual and indulgent pacing that director Vegh
has employed. And that’s too bad, because the Beck cast is clearly capable of
much more.
Body
Awareness
Through
November 6 at Beck Center, 17801 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, 216-521-2540.
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