By Joe Straw
An Apache Dance is a violent dance for two people, originated by the
Parisian Apaches. Parisian Apaches are gangsters
or ruffians. – A definition from the play.
(Apache is pronounced ah-Pahse)
This play is emotionally real, but does not take place in a realistic
world. Only those scenic elements
necessary to the action should be on stage.
Only those areas that are played in should be lit. – The Style from the
play.
The Rainbow Theater Company presents Danny and the Deep Blue Sea written by John Patrick Shanley,
directed by Carl Weathers, and produced by Henry Jaglom, at the Edgemar Center
for the Arts through September 10, 2017.
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea by John Patrick Shanley is a
wonderful play with solid performances by Tanna Federick (Roberta) and Robert
Standley (Danny). Carl Weathers (you will
remember him as Apollo Creed from the Rocky films) has a critical eye that
propels this version of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea into a proficient, remarkable,
and pleasing night of theatre.
Shanley, the writer, describes the play as an Apache dance. The characters
bring their own strengths to the metaphorical dance floor, each pushing and pulling,
twirling, wrist locking, and pulsating for a kind of self-preservation. But rather than a physical dance, this is an
emotionally charged verbal dance between two licentious characters. The
dialogue is not overtly simple. The two
characters hold truths that have an underlying deeper meaning as they battle
for position. Shanley leaves enough ambiguity in the play for the performers
and director to make their own solid creative choices.
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea is a one-act play in three
scenes.
Roberta (Tanna Frederick) seemed a little bored; her attenuated
body was slouched over her table and her face was almost in the red pretzel
basket. She was slightly drunk wasting
away in a lonely, tight fitting, bar in the Bronx.
Danny (Robert Standley) muscled his way past Roberta, making
sure his backside bumped her chair. He dropped his empty beer mug on the
table and it rolled like a dancer in pirouette.
Not satisfied that he got Roberta’s attention, he slammed the pitcher of
beer down on the table. The undulating
waves of foam sloshed the side of the pitcher and Danny, eyeing Roberta, slowly turned his compass, bent his knees, and
straddled his seat in her direction.
Danny is battered. Below
his left eye is a deep gash and his right hand is wrapped in a bloody bandage.
“How about a
pretzel?” – Danny
“No. They’re mine.” – Roberta
Unbeknownst to either one, the Apache dance has begun. There
is a sudden awareness from Roberta as she, at first, hides from Danny but then openly
regards Danny, swinging in his direction, revealing herself as an appealing but
dangerous counterpart, and someone who could handle his every nuance.
Later, in a moment of irremediable idleness, and as an act
to move toward closeness, Roberta asks Danny about a girlfriend.
“You gotta friend, you know, a girlfriend? – Roberta
“No.” – Danny
“No?” – Roberta
“We broke up.” – Danny
That must be a relief to Roberta who is testing his sexual predilection.
Danny says he broke up with his Italian girlfriend. Roberta likes that,
especially since she’s looking, divorced, and a mother of a 13-year-old son
with problems.
They are both stag, cornered in a sleazy bar, and breathing in
abject loneliness.
Roberta, opening her life, says she’s got some serious
issues with her father and would liked to stab him fifty times in the
face. There is a tense contraction in
her being that is demonstrative and foreshadows more to come.
But this doesn’t seem to faze Danny; to one up her, he says
that he might have killed a guy in a fight. He is extremely ambiguous describing that
night, something about looking for twenty dollars and needing to take care of the
two men.
They move closer, a verbal spiral about whose father was the
worst until Danny offers Roberta some of his beer.
He lunges toward her pouring the beer with haste and his
certain brand of delicacy. It is a release of sorts as Danny goes back to his
table.
“You waiting for somebody?” – Roberta
“No.” – Danny
“Me neither.” – Roberta
Roberta finds out that Danny has not been to jail. The guy
can’t be that bad if he’s never been incarcerated so Roberta shimmies up to his
table but Danny abhors her moves. A jarring back and forth ensues, a verbal
flea slide, until a dramatic isolation halts the conversation with a confession
about her father.
Roberta needs this night to be a release or catharsis and
Danny wants to further his boundaries in a meaningful relationship.
Spoiler alert: If you are intending to go see this grand
production, do not continue reading the rest of this blog entry.
Robert Standley
gives the character of Danny substance, strong physical attributes, and an
emotional being that is living in the now—it is a terrific performance. Still
he could add to the character. Danny’s masculinity is called into question on a
number of occasions—doubts about making love “I can’t do that”, playing with
dolls, “I wanted to be the bride,” and being called a “beefcake faggot.” Inner
doubt plays well with this character, after all he is still living at home,
with his mother. These are all elements that
take the character to another dimension. In the beginning of the second scene,
they have just finished making love and that must be visible, or manifest
itself in some perceptible way. Also,
the second scene is still part of the dance, still dangerous, a focused back
and forth, but nevertheless a coming together.
The focus should be just as intense and not waiver. All are just minor things because Standley overall gives an outstanding performance.
Tanna Frederick is
equally enticing as Roberta. Roberta is
alone, strong, and needing a validation before the night ends. The opening
could be strengthened—being bored and slightly drunk does not give the momentum
that this particular character needs on this night. The first “All right” needs strength, a show
of force, and the willingness to engage because that is where this character is
going. Roberta can never physically lose sight of her partner. The relationship
requires a supreme engagement, physically, emotionally, and mentally. The slap
on the arm in the second scene is not enough to test him, to move him out of
the house, and to find out what kind of man he is. It must mean something and
be more dramatic. Minor things aside,
Frederick is one of the most appealing actors working in Hollywood today. She is a master of the intangibles, and a reason
for going to the theatre, and in particular, this play.
Carl Weathers has
a strong sense of craft and a flair for the dramatic. His theatrical acumen was
present on this night. And, one was
delighted that Weathers is not just a handsome face, but also a man with a convincing
theatrical core. Weathers creates his own official stamp on this presentation.
He is strong in his craft revealing much, giving away little, and generously
giving the characters strength. It is a grand
theatrical outing and one that breathes extraordinary life in this production.
Tanna Frederick
and Lauren Beck were the producers
of this event for the Rainbow Theatre Company.
The Sound Designer was Christopher
Moscatiello.
The Set Designer was Mark
Kanieff and even though the black box theatre was small, less space would
have heighten the relationship. Still,
there were some very clever things done to turn a bar into Roberta’s closet
bedroom.
The Stage Manager was Jennifer
Palumbo and the Lighting Designer was Derrick
McDaniel.
Other members of this crew are as follows:
Cristina
Carrillo-Dono – Assistant Stage Manager
Joseph Williams –
Production Coordinator
Adrian Carr –
Poster Design
Run! Run! Run! And take a barfly, someone you’ve had your
eye on for sometime, just to break the ice.
RESRERVATIONS: (310)
392-7327.
ONLINE TICKETING: www.edgemarcenter.org
Enjoyed this write-up of "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea," Joe, very much. Wonderful clear description, I want to see this production, hope it's up a long time.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sam!
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