Don’t Go
Gentle at the Lucille Lortel Theatre takes its time to resolve what it is
trying to say, though it never drags.
It is the story of a Judge who is forced from the bench by his failing
health. At a loss as to what to do
with his days, he focuses on a mildly wronged African American mother and her
nearly adult son. His supportive relationship
with them contrasts with the strained relationship he maintains with his own children, a devoted daughter and troubled son.
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Michael
Cristofer plays the Judge, Lawrence, who is going a bit stir-crazy being house
bound after cancer surgery. He is physically
recovering well, but is not emotionally reconciling to the end of his
career. At his daughter’s
suggestion, Lawrence offers legal aid to a young lady wrongly convicted of a
felony, when it should have been a misdemeanor. Angela Lewis plays the African American woman, Tanya, with
very real emotions. Tanya cares
for her 16 year old son, the very tall Rasheed, played excellently by Maxx
Brawer.
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| Angela Lewis & Michael Cristofer in Don't Go Gentle |
As the
result of the misapplication of the law and her subsequent incarceration, Tanya
and Rasheed find their lives interrupted.
None of their problems are direr, but they offend Lawrence’s sense of
legal duty, and so he helps where he can. Once he begins to help them, he finds that he enjoys
being a benefactor.
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Concurrently,
Lawrence’s son Ben returns to the US after a stay in India. His attempts to help his father’s
recovery are met with dismissal.
Ben and his father cannot help but bicker and daughter Amelia plays a
constantly frustrated peacemaker. David
Wilson Barnes and Jennifer Mudge portray Ben and Amelia. I last saw these two excellent actors in The Big Meal, and
their easy chemistry is shown off her with a light and lovely touch as siblings
well aware of each other’s foibles.
They grew up watching each other’s back in a strict home that was light
on affection.
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Lawrence’s new
found joy at “parenting” Tanya and Rasheed baffle his children, and offend young
Rasheed. Director Lucie Tiberghien moves the action along well, even though the
play relies quite a bit on episodic scenes that bring choppiness to Don’t Go
Gentle. The other problem is the
character of Tanya, who moves from a self-reliant and wary young mother into a
houseguest / care giver too easily.
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Don’t Go
Gentle has some wonderful moments, but the discordant character growth
occasionally trips up the narrative. As with every MCC product at the Lucille Lortel, the
technical side of things is excellent (scenic design – Robin Vest, sound design & original composition – Fabian Obispo).
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Don't Go Gentle
Playwright: Stephen Belber
Director: Lucie Tiberghien
Cast: David Wilson Barnes, Maxx Brawer, Michael Cristofer, Angela Lewis, Jennifer Mudge
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