BWW Reviews: convergence-continuum's THE MUSEUM PLAY is Well Worth the Price

I hesitated in writing this review for quite some time. The reason I hesitated was this: I loved the show almost unequivocally. Now, you would think this not an issue, as any reviewer would want to write the review that proclaims, "Go see this show, it is so powerful!" You'd be right. However, there are a few caveats: The director happens to be one of my closest friends, and the Artistic Director and I have known each other for 8 years. So, under those circumstances, i was worried that my review might look biased and hurt the reputation of this otherwise sterling performance. However, after much wrangling, I have decided to write the review anyway. So, with those points in mind, here we go!

"The Museum Play" by Jordan Harrison is not an easy play. Rather, it is not an easy play to act, to perform. Much of the language exists slightly apart from reality at points, and the characters tend to be slightly overwrought, due to the language of the author. As an actor, one has to be very careful not to play the characters as a caricature, something that is ably handled by most of this cast. Even Artistic Director Clyde Simon's portrayal of the various museum patrons which at first, seems slightly corny, by the second act fits quite clearly into the show and his portrayal of Mr. Everly is nuanced and touching, as the only person who truly understand the point of a museum.

Sarah Kunchik's Curator has the ability to occasionally be overbearing, but her ability to inhabit a role that largely interacts only with the audience stands alone. Her speech in the second act is quite terrifying, as we see how dangerous a woman who sees the world as her plaything can become.

Stuart Hoffman's Vin and Zac Hudak's Jame are well-rounded, though their characters could have benefited for more development by the author. However, in the brief time we see them in action, any gay man who watches the show will be touched by the constant struggle between who we are and what we want the world to see us as that Vin goes through and to what lengths it causes Jame to go to. So, too, do we see Jessica Fleming's Lila struggle for a place in this relationship that has already blossomed. Ms. Fleming's work is serviceable, however, I believe that she missed several opportunities to give us a look t the backstory that created this fragile, desperate woman.

The real standout in this show, however, is Lauren B. Smith. Having seen here in Valparaiso, I was not prepared for the tour de force she gives as security guard/board member/ward of the museum Lucy. Ms. Smith's ability to play young Lucy as well as the two sides of security guard Lucy and strong, forceful board member Lucy, who finally rescues the museum and its captured exhibits is nothing short of astonishing and brilliant. By the end of the show, we see Lucy as a fully-formed individual who has stepped out of her safety net of the museum to battle the wide world beyond, in stark contrast to the tapped Curator.

As a whole, the direction by freshman director Cory Molner eliminates many of the issues that could be had with the play, especially in a small black-box such as the Liminis. Scene transitions are quick and move swiftly, and the pacing feels brisk but not rushed. Lights done by Colleen Albrecht make the space again feel much more spacious and varied than it is, serving the Limins quite well.

Overall, the Museum Play is a joy to experience and a well-worth-it 70-something minutes spent exploring memory and relationships. The show is in its final weekend at the Liminis; Thurs-Sat at 8pm, tickets available at www.convergence-continuum.org.

Photo Credit: Cory Molner

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