BWW Reviews: Group Rep Opens Collected Stories

Collected Stories/by Donald Margulies/directed by Sherry Netherland/Group rep/through November 10

There have been many dramatized stories about the relationship between teacher/student, mentor/artist. Eve Harrington in All About Eve is the first to come to mind and her infatuation with Margo Channing's every move. She adored her and stole from her. She recreated and used her for her own success, not caring what became of Margo. In his Collected Stories Donald Margulies puts seemingly vulnerable writing student Lisa Morrison (Liza de Weerd) into the nurturing care of teacher/writer Ruth Steiner (Julia Silverman) and extols the comaraderie that develops between them as colleagues until it becomes a fact that Morrison has taken a confided incident from Steiner's life and sensationalized it in her very first novel. Under Sherry Netherland's watchful eye, both actresses hit the jackpot theatrically as they meticulously explore the intelligent issues at hand.

What constitutes good writing? Ruth Steiner is a successful short story writer but keeps certain truths from her past under wraps "Some things you don't touch." Out of fear, insecurity of becoming the true Bohemian woman she always dreamed of being, she realizes that she has failed herself...and is running out of time. Lisa is young, has the opportunities to grow, and of that, Ruth is clearly envious, although she speaks to the contrary. When I first saw the play a dozen or so years ago, I ended up being on Ruth's side at the end, thinking that Lisa had betrayed her confidence. This time around, I can understand Lisa's points. She thinks that she is paying tribute to Ruth by telling a story from Ruth's life that she did not write about herself, for whatever reason. Both Ruth and Lisa's justifications for their actions are acceptable. Is Lisa on the level? Is she sincere? Surely she is no saint, but neither is Ruth. De Weerd and Silverman astonishingly bring out every nuance, every subtlety imaginable in their characters' attitudes and confessions. With great writing from Margulies and keen direction from Netherland, the play is intellectually riveting and Group rep's representation simply soars.

We always expect a confidante to ask permission before taking. But, times have changed and maybe it's time to rethink the limits of a friendly relationship, forgive, and find not only the bad, but the good in what has been done. Chris Winfield has designed a set of Steiner's New York brownstone apartment in the 90s which works simply and beautifully.

Even if you've already seen Collected Stories, see it again, as the acting in this production could not get any better!

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