The Observer, February 18, 2005
Volume XXXVII, Issue 18
Sex, love, and relationships collide in Stoppard's The Real Thin
Having read last week's interview ("Case MFA students search for the spotlight ," – 02/11/05) with two of the actors in Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing at the Cleveland Play House, I was pleasantly surprised by the opening night crowd. Jason Miller, who plays Max in the show, seemed concerned that he'd be performing to a small crowd of graying socialites. A quick look around the audience should have dashed his fears. The house was almost filled to capacity and the crowd was a fairly even mix of old and young theatregoers.
Miller was just one of the seven MFA students who bring this show to life. Most of the action revolves around Henry (Joshua McKay), a playwright in the 1970s. Henry is looking for his "real thing," his muse. His marriage to Charlotte (Nicole Hedges) seems to be fizzing out and his daughter Debbie (Bailey Varness) is enjoying the sexual revolution. His friend Max (Miller) is starring in Henry's current play – House of Cards – alongside Charlotte.
The Real Thing opens with a play-within-a-play of House of Cards, which is a bit confusing at first. The next scene has Henry and Charlotte at home when Max drops by for a quick visit. Max's wife Annie (Elizabeth Davis) also comes over and Henry and Charlotte get in a fight because he invited company over without asking her. There's a sense that this fight is nothing out of the ordinary, nor is the kiss Annie and Henry share while Charlotte and Max are in the kitchen.
Henry and Charlotte's marriage falls apart as Henry pursues Annie. Two years pass during intermission and Henry seems happier with Annie in his life, but he still is having troubles writing. Annie asks him to look over a script by Brodie (Samuel Holloway), a soldier turned political prisoner who she has been fighting to have freed since the beginning of the play. Henry thinks Brodie can't write well, but finally agrees to edit the script – which is being turned into a TV movie. Henry and Annie's relationship takes a turn for the worst when Henry suspects her of having an affair with Billy (Lelund Thompson), who she is appearing in a play with.
The Real Thing is a great piece of modern theatre; the characters are easy to relate to and the dialogue is great. A soundtrack of '70s pop music flows with the script and works its way into many of the scenes.
It is easy to see why the Case / Play House MFA program is gaining national attention: this group of actors has vast talent and the program provides faculty to hone their skills and prepare these students for careers in theatre. The caliber of performances is on-par with professional theatre and I would not be surprised to see any of these names on a Broadway marquee in the next few years.
The Real Thing runs at The Cleveland Play House's Studio One Theatre and has three performances remaining: tonight and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and a Saturday matinee at 4 p.m. Student tickets are $10 for this and all shows at CPH and are available by calling (216) 795-7000. The Cleveland Play House is located at 8500 Euclid Ave. just west of campus.
