Review: Richard Nelson Continues Election Year Trilogy With WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?

With his quartet of dramas concerning the Apple family of Rhinebeck, New York now being followed by his trilogy-in-progress concerning their fellow Rhinebeckers, the Gabriels, you might say that Richard Nelson has written more Chekhovian plays than Anton Chekhov.

It all began with THAT HOPEY CHANGEY THING, which opened at The Public Theatre on the day it was set, November 2nd, 2010, the day of the first midterm election during the Obama administration.

Subsequent plays involving the same characters (and people in their lives) took place, and opened on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, Election Day 2012 and the 50th Anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

All were directed by the playwright as quiet pieces centered on dining room conversation that mostly pertained to family issues, but with politics and current events flavoring the evening, both directly and subtly.

As with the Apples, the Gabriels, whose trio of plays are designated as "Election Year In The Life Of One Family," are a collection of left-leaning adults who aren't entirely comfortable with the way the left has been leaning. But The New Group is less educated and financially vulnerable.

The characters were introduced in HUNGRY, which opened at The Public in March on the evening after Donald Trump defended the size of his penis during a Republican debate. Like that opening episode, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? is set in the kitchen, with the audience watching on four sides while dinner is being prepared.

The naturalistic style of the play is best exemplified by the beautifully understated, yet fully detailed performance of Maryann Plunkett, who plays Mary, the widow of a playwright and novelist namEd Thomas. In HUNGRY, it had been four months since Thomas passed away. Here, Plunkett carries on the purposeful energy of a woman who is too worried about settling up matters to properly grieve.

Thomas' ex-wife, Karin (Meg Gibson), a former actor, is renting a room in the home which is owned by her former mother-in-law, Patricia (Roberta Maxwell), who stands to lose it because of an unwise financial decision. Karin spends her time searching through Thomas' old manuscripts for something that might prove worthy enough to bring in some cash.

Thomas' brother, George (nicely earnest Jay O. Sanders), is a talented cabinetmaker and piano teacher, but, as his understanding wife Hannah (Lynn Hawley) will admit, he has no business sense. They're now in the process of selling the family's valuable old Bechstein piano.

It seems the only Gabriel who has made a secure life for herself is Thomas's sister, Joyce (Amy Warren), who lives in Brooklyn and has built up an impressive resume as an assistant costume designer.

WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? certainly has the feel of a middle play, since Nelson doesn't re-establish the relationships of the characters early on. Those not familiar with HUNGRY may find themselves without the information needed to catch up right away.

But the ensemble is, once again, excellent, as they calmly struggle to be supportive to one another while fearing the consequences of a Donald Trump presidency and expressing concern that Hillary Clinton may not possess the charisma needed to carry the election.

The final chapter of the Gabriel trilogy, WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE, is scheduled to open on Election Night, November 8th.

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