World Premiere THE BOOK OF MATTHEW by Gene Abravaya
Priscilla Locke and Will Marchetti star in World Premiere of The Book of Matthew by Gene Abravaya.
THE BOOK OF MATTHEW by Gene Abravaya. A World Premiere, Directed by Hector Correa. At theBette Condiotti Experimental Theater, Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park, CA. 707-588-3400 or www.spreckelsonline.com. Thursdays at
TOP-NOTCH CAST MAKES THE BOOK OF MATTHEW WORTH SEEING
Every budding playwright should be as fortunate as is Gene Abravaya to have a top-notch cast and a seasoned director to perform the world premiere of his first full-length play. Abravaya is not a neophyte, having written/produced for television and directed for local theatre companies including Pacific Alliance Stage Company. The writing in The Book of Matthew reflects his experience in television and the story line could easily be adapted to an afternoon soap opera asking the question (ala Helen Trent) when should an unpublished novelist throw in the sponge. It is the superb acting/directing on Eddy Hansen’s realistic set that deserves a visit to
The play brings no fresh insight into human nature and the characters are stereotypes. Almost every scene includes expository dialog to develop character and justify present day personality traits although there are flashes of brilliance in the writing. These faults are disguised by the Hector Correa’s sharp acting and directing along with admirable performances of long time West Coast favorite Will Marchetti and
Matthew Liebowitz (Tim Kniffin) is about to turn the dreaded age of 40 with a stack of rejection slips (actually FedEx boxes) for his efforts. He previously had a lucrative job writing TV scripts for Summerfield, a TV pot-boiler in which his wife Maggie (Jenifer Cote) who has departed from him after he gave up TV writing to be a “serious” Tom Wolfe type of novelist. He supports himself in two jobs as a waiter and pizza delivery man and lives in a 3rd floor, unkempt flat in low rent upper, upper West Manhattan. His closest friend is Vincent Alcedo (Hector Correa) a flamboyant Hispanic gay actor who lives in the upper flat and makes unexpected, but not unwelcome entrance and exits through the fire escape window. Through the very clever device concocted by the author, Vincent, through the opening in an unused fireplace, has the dubious pleasure of being able to hear all the conversations in Matt’s flat.
Into this environment comes Robert (Jeff Cote) Matt’s successful CPA brother who is “tired of filing the short (IRS) form.” Robert and his wife Karen (Priscilla Locke) are delivering the uncommunicative elderly Howard Liebowitz (Will Marchetti) who has withdrawn into almost complete silence after the death of his wife two years ago. The characters are all in place and the plot line does have intricate twists to keep the story interesting.
In the second scene of act one, Vince comes through the window to look after Howard. Correa gives a brilliant performance in an unbroken monolog relating his sad tale of woe as a gay Latino, in love with a Jimmy Hernandez, to Howard who responds with affirmative or negative grunts. When Howard asks, “What happened to Jimmy Hernandez?” a bond develops between the two. Marchetti handles that transition from monosyllabic grunting to an articulate demeanor with consummate skill preparing him for the inevitable father/son conflict with Matt. Priscilla Locke gives an accent perfect performance as a typical, vociferous protective Jewish mother that is pitch-perfect and Jeff Cote are very competent in his minor role.
Inexplicably Tim Kniffen who has turned in exceptional performances at the
There is a very exceptional well written and acted humorous touch involving Matt, Vince, the fireplace, fire escape window and the telephone to end the play.
Kedar K. Adour
Courtesy of TheatreWorld Internet Magazine