The Bay at Nice
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LaRussa,Gee Byrd, Combs
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By Joseph N. Feinstein
Two wonderful thespians, Dakin Matthews and Anne McNaughton, have taken the Andak
Stage Company into the NewPlace Studio Theater in North Hollywood for its current season. Together, they are producing and directing David Hare's short piece starring Anne Gee Byrd as Valentina, a mother who has had her share of pain; Annie LaRussa, as her daughter, Sophia, who is attempting to stand on her own two feet; John Combs as Sophia's lover, Peter, attempting to develop a spine; and Charlotte DiGregorio as the Assistant Curator of the art museum which serves as the setting for the piece, who creates a believability in her role by her look and stature.
David Hare is a master of colorful, meaningful, rich language. It was evident in his play, Stuff Happens, about the lead-up to the Iraq war which debuted in Los Angeles in June, 2005 and The Vertical Hour which debuted in New York in 2006. It's no less evident in this play which first ran in London a generation ago. And, while the story line is interesting, the conflict of duty versus freedom should be paid close attention to in both Hare's words and the fine nuances and acting of Ms. Byrd as Valentina, single in Leningrad in 1956. Further kudos go to Ms. McNaughton whose direction and pacing are absolutely first rate.
It's a simple story: Valentina is confronted by her daughter, Sophia, at an art museum where Valentina has been summoned to verify the authenticity of a painting by Matisse. Valentina was a talented art student in Paris before the First World War and studied with Henri Matisse. There she became pregnant and came home to Russia to raise her daughter. The confrontation consists of the news of Sophia's strong desire to divorce her husband in order to marry Peter. And, when Peter appears to meet mother Valentina, the fireworks begin. Valentina comments that Peter is "ten years from death!" As he tells Valentina that he has never taken a risk, it becomes clear that Peter may represent the father that Sophia never had. By marrying Peter, Sophia will give up the privileges that she has come to expect from being the wife of a successful Communist party bureaucrat. The State will make it difficult for her to divorce, and the wait may take as much as two years.
Listen for the duplicity of words versus action. Pay close attention to the mother's asides, for they will reveal the mendacity therein. Realize the effectiveness of keeping the painting present but hidden from the audience's view while the bantering goes on. Delight in four performances worthy of a much larger audience than the eight stalwart souls present during the performance we attended.
The performances and emotions expressed will remain with you long after the curtain calls and applause is over. This play runs until May 20 and deserves your attention and participation. Go and enjoy! The Bay at Nice is very nice, indeed!
The Bay at Nice NewPlace Studio Theatre 10950 Peach Grove St. North Hollywood 91601 Tel. 866-811-4111; 818-506-8462 www.andak.org Friday & Saturday @ 8:00 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday @ 2:30 p.m. Tickets $15
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