Review: SECOND CHANCE at Seven Angels Theatre

On Sunday, April 8, I had the pleasure of seeing SECOND CHANCE at Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury, CT. This new show, written by Mike Vogel, combines a powerful blend of comedy and drama to create an experience that the entire audience enjoys. Director Russell Treyz brings this story to life, with a very talented cast.

Paul D'Amato excels in the lead role of Jack, a 77 year old widower who is angry, cynical, and rude. Paul D'Amato uses a voice that sounds like Oscar the Grouch, while delivering his lines. This works perfectly for this character. He is initially very likeable as a Yankees fan and a man whose rhetoric is comical.

Jack Lafferty is great in the role of Larry, Jack's only child, a 37 year old son who is a lawyer, paying for Jack's apartment, but insisting that Jack goes to assisted living, because Jack's behavior and forgetfulness are making his independent living dangerous. Jack is extremely resistant of the idea, but Larry eventually gets him to agree to a one week trial period.

Upon arriving in the assisted living residence, Jack soon meets Violet, a resident bachelorette woman who essentially throws herself at him, advances that although surprising to Jack, were not something that he was very resistant towards. Marina Re portrays Violet in a very believable way, across a gamut of emotions.

Another resident named Chet becomes an obstacle to Jack, as he is also interested in the social opportunities provided by Violet, and by the younger women who work as nurses in the facility. Warren Kelley portrays Chet in a manner that properly conveys the deliberate "dirty old man" and antagonist vibes that characterize Chet's presence in the show.

Amanda Kristin Nichols is amazing in the role of Malka, a young Russian nurse who is a single mother looking for a husband to be a father to her son. She is skeeved by Chet who pays her for back rubs, but becomes infatuated with Jack who comes across with more sensitivity. This, however, becomes an obstacle to Jack's budding romance with Violet. Amanda Kristin Nichols is totally convincing in this role, complete with a Russian accent that is never compromised. Amanda Kristin Nichols' voice talents are also used from the side of the stage in the role of Blanche, a loudmouthed resident who never appears onstage.

Will Jack end up with Violet? Will Jack end up with Malka instead? Will Jack fix Larry up with Malka? Will Jack fight to the death with Chet over Malka or Violet? Will everyone end up single? Come to the show to find out!

I highly recommend SECOND CHANCE which is scheduled to continue to run at Seven Angels Theatre through April 29th. For tickets and times, please go to http://sevenangelstheatre.org/.

Photo by Paul Roth

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