A Feminine Ending
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Brooke Bloom
Photo by Henry DiRocco
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By Joseph N. Feinstein
"Have you opened all the doors of your life before you get too busy to open them?"..."What's the difference between a male sentence and a female sentence?"...."She's breast-fed you guilt milk!" These and other intelligent questions and bon mots are all part of the scenario of Sarah Treem's new play being performed at the Julianne Argyros Stage at the Folino Theatre Center in Costa Mesa until January 27. It's one play you don't want to miss!
Brooke Bloom plays Amanda, a talented musician, who has left her quiet New Hampshire upbringing for the tumultuous experience of New York. There she meets and becomes engaged to Jack (Peter Katona), a singer who is about to make it big on the Great White Way. Three other characters round out this very talented, exciting cast: Amy Aquino as Amanda's mother, Kim; Alan Blumenfeld as her father, David; and Jedadiah Schultz as her first boyfriend, Billy.
A feminine ending means, in music or poetry, ending on an unaccented beat. Amanda has put her music career on hold to enjoy being a celebrity's girlfriend, writing musical jingles for a living and finding out that the choices women make are often a result of what society expects of them. When Amanda's mother decides to leave her father after thirty years of marriage, Amanda's visit to her mother leaves her vulnerable to the charms of her old boyfriend and her neatly ordered world is turned upside down.
Ms. Treem's vision of Amanda is evidenced in her dialogue. She speaks to the audience about realizing that she cannot think of one female composer who is ever mentioned among the greats. She has submitted her oboe concerto to a famous competition and is crushed when she does not win. Her boyfriend is focused on his career, and, eventually, Amanda tries to construct a meaningful life for herself.
The acting is superb throughout. Ms. Bloom speaks with a sincerity and sensitivity which demonstrates her strong belief in her character, helping us truly believe the words she utters. We find ourselves rooting for her to make the right decisions in her life. Amy Aquino, as her mother, implores her to think through her decisions with a passionate, utterly honest conviction which shows love and concern. Her father, Alan Blumenfeld, in an all-to-seldom appearance on stage, adds immeasurably to the heartfelt wisdom of Treem's words with his sage advice. The conviction of all the actors helps move the story along to its most plausible conclusion. Will she stay and bask in Jack's glory or move on with her own career?
Credit Peter Maradudin for some masterful lighting; Tony Cisek for a thoughtful, simple set design where the different locales are done efficiently; Colbert S. Davis IV for thoroughly audible clarity of sound. Timothy Douglas directs his cast outstandingly, helping the audience to both delineate and appreciate Sarah Treem's intelligent script.
This is a fine effort by a young playwright and deserves an attentive willing audience. I'll leave you on this, a feminine ending.
A Feminine Ending by Sarah Treem Folino Theatre Center 655 Town Center Drive Costa Mesa 92626
Tel. 714-708-5555 Tuesday - Friday @ 7:45 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday @ 2:00 p.m. & 7:45 p.m.; Tickets $28-$62.
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