BWW Reviews: Albee's Brilliant SEASCAPE at Theatre West

Seascape
by Edward Albee
directed by Charlie Mount
Theatre West
through October 16

Edward Albee won a Pulitzer for Seascape in 1975, and it is no surprise. Concerned with uneven communication in relationships - like Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and A Delicate Balance before it - Seascape shows a married couple at odds on how to spend their retirement. Not nearly as dysfunctional as George and Martha in Virginia Woolf, Nancy (Arden Teresa Lewis) and Charlie (Alan Schack) have quite a pleasant, even keel relationship, but, as in most, one mate eventually gives in passively to old age while the other wants to keep living. Charlie prefers "to rest" whereas Nancy wants to explore new horizons as "we've earned a little life." Instead of introducing into the game another 'normal' couple like Nick and Honey in Woolf?, Albee throws caution to the wind, brilliant writer that he is, and pits Nancy and Charlie against two members of the animal kingdom, lizards Leslie (Paul Gunning) and Sarah (Kristin Wiegand) with hilarious, thought-provoking and exciting results. Theatre West is mounting a handsomely tailored and thoroughly intelligent production of Seascape, based on the trimmed down 2005 New York version. Direction, cast and production values are all first-rate.

Albee never ceases to amaze in this play. First, the introduction of fully-grown adult lizards on a remote beach- who act almost human and can speak English - turns the reality quite abruptly into fantasy. Charlie and Nancy at first question if indeed they are still alive, or were perhaps poisoned from a liver paste they ate for lunch and died. After their initial fear passes and they start to accept what is happening, the couples explore each other and chat ... about sex, procreation and the quality of marriage. We are forced to accept - at least temporarily - the lizards as we would another human couple. The entire scenario is terribly funny as are many of the exchanges, but it's the unexpected outcome that brings more pleasure than the comedic means. How animals adapt to change, is it really that much different from our own? We can definitely learn one from the other. Evolution, as we have always accepted, proves that our higher life form is superior, but now, how do we know for sure? Through education and enlightenment, anything seems possible. Albee greatly challenges our thinking with this little allegory that is at once unusual, miraculous and completely life-affirming.

The four actors are outstanding. Lewis is luminous as Nancy, seizing every moment as wondrous. Her Act I monologue in which she confesses her past innermost feelings, is particularly worthy of note. Schack is equally engaging as he must adapt to unforeseen circumstances and finally make some commitment. Gunning and Wiegand are both marvelous not only with the physical demands of their roles but also in expressing the slow, clumsy but keen progression to emotional understanding. Mount's direction is fluid, with perfect pacing throughout. Jeff G. Rack's beachfront set, Yancey Dunham's lighting and Mount's sound design are all finely tuned and enhance the progression of the play from day to night ... ironically from bewilderment and darkness to a fuller sense of clarity.

Seascape is Albee at his most provocative and inventive, for the play is as multi-layered as the divergent emotions expressed. It is a remarkable piece of theatre made 100% enjoyable and lucid by Theatre West's superb rendition.

 

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