Anyone who is familiar with and enjoys Russian playwright Anton Checkhov’s work will become fascinated with the parallels of the characters in Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies’ homage to the writer with his play “The Country House.”
Grand and formerly successful stage diva Anna Patterson, played brilliantly by Kimberly King, summons her family (all obsessed actors) to their country house, while she is appearing in her annual foray in summer stock in the Berkshires, to mourn the first anniversary of her daughter Kathy’s death. Kathy was a successful actress who died of cancer at age 41. She has also invited her friend Michael Aster (Jason Kuykendall), a former stage actor and handsome hunk who has made it big as a TV star.
It gets more Checkovian with Anna’s son (Stephen Muterspaugh), a frustrated actor who never made it. He decides to become a playwright with a play about a man who kills his mother, burns down the family house and takes his own life. Then there is Walter (Gary S. Martinez), Kathy’s widow husband who shows up with a Porsche and a new “hot” girlfriend Nell (Marcia Pizzo). Suzie (Rosie Hallett), Kathy’s and Walter’s daughter, is the only one in the family not into the acting rage.
The first and second acts meld together with colorful comedy and fun while the third act gets down to the business of each character’s feelings, especially Elliot who reveals his deepest frustrations to Anna.
Bringing Margulies’s characters together with humor and at times pathos makes for a well done enjoyable production with delightful tongue-in-cheek direction by ever-reliable Robert Kelley. An attractive set designed by Andrea Bechert gives off a warm at-home feeling, and B. Modern dresses all with a comfortable feel that makes the characters look just right. All players are well cast and carry their roles in the best of TheatreWorks tradition—always the ultimate finest.
“The Country House” is a recommended place to visit for an evening of fine theater.
“The Country House”
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
500 Castro St.
Mountain View
Through Sept. 20
Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes with intermission
Tickets: $19-$80
For information call (650) 463-1960 or go to theatreworks.org.
