Theater
Breaking Through Barrier’s According
to Goldman at the Clurman Theatre is a a new take on the old story of
the Hollywood writer shuttle. It covers a
lot of the same territory we’ve seen before, but brings some honest emotion
that makes this trip worthwhile.
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| Pamela Sabaugh, Stephen Drabicki, Nicholas Viselli in According to Goldman |
Gavin
Miller, well played by Nicholas Viselli, teaches screenwriting at an Eastern
college. He has had success in
Hollywood, with family films he isn’t particularly proud of, and has turned
this success into a teaching gig. Into
his class walks Jeremiah Collins, touchingly played by Stephen Drabicki. Jeremiah is a Missionary’s son with an
interesting back-story that he turns into a screenplay.
Gavin takes
an interest in Jeremiah and his story.
An interest that turns into a collaboration, one
that Gavin thinks might
be his ticket back to Hollywood. What makes
this story feel fresh and genuine is Pamela Sabaugh’s performance as Gavin’s
wife. It is a painfully honest portrayal
of a wife trying to stand by her husband, even when she questions his judgment.
 |
| Nicholas Viselli and Pamela Sabaugh |
Mr.
Drabicki’s young Jeremiah is an earnest young man, who tries to act honorably
in all things. He’s moral compass makes
a second act twist feel a little artificial, even though Mr. Draicki pulls it
back to reality quickly. Mr. Viselli’s
Gavin is perfectly believable as the insecure and slightly desperate
screenwriter. It loses a little sympathy
only by being a character we’ve seen often before.
But Ms.
Sabaugh grounds her performance so much, that both men become more
believable. She wants, so much, to think
the best of these men that she drags us alone with her. Her reaction to their scheming is laced with disappointment,
but not surprise.
Director Ike
Schambelan does a good job with According to Goldman, helped by great sets from
Bert Scott. The Viselli house is a
shrine to movies and the people that make them.
The set reminds the professor constantly that he isn’t where he thinks
he should be. PS – love the idea about
Ann Frank’s cat – gold!
According to Goldman
Playwright:
Bruce Graham
Director: Ike Schambelan
Cast: Stephen Drabicki, Pamela Sabaugh,
Nicholas Viselli
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