BWW Reviews: Neil LaBute's Riveting Adaptation of MISS JULIE Commands the Geffen

Miss Julie/by August Strindberg/adaptation by Neil LaBute/directed by Jo Bonney/Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse/through June 2

Writer Neil LaBute, famous for creating plays like Bash (1999) in which ordinary respectable people commit sudden, unspeakable acts of violence, seems to be the logical adapter for August Strindberg's Miss Julie, the controversial classic 1888 Swedish play, known for its characters' bold, unexpected behavior. Miss Julie (Lily Rabe) is an aristocrat who willingly seduces a servant John (Logan Marshall-Green) who refuses to take orders from her, thereby shunning his duty to uphold her honor. Class distinction in 19th century Sweden and how members of each try to break through the barriers is at the heart of Miss Julie. How do you make this work in 20th century America? LaBute has cautiously found a suitable place and time switching the action to Long Island, New York 1929 merely a month prior to the stock market crash that would befall the entire world. Both the affluent and the nouveau rich business moguls of the upper middle class suffered greatly. Dreams of the upwardly mobile were dashed. The world premiere adaptation by LaBute of Miss Julie is moment.to.moment chillingly riveting theatre with a brilliant cast of three under the expert direction of Jo Bonney currently at the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater of the Geffen through June 2.

The play examines power, power of one person over another. The rich control their servants; it's never the other way around. But, in Miss Julie, the servants have plenty to say, do not hold back and not only let their weak perverted bosses know their true feelings but use them at opportune moments for their own gain. Even at the roughest instances of defeat, they keep on pushing to surmount obstacles. Take for example John's intended, Miss Julie's female servant and cook Kristine (Laura Heisler) who pontificates her faith in God as an attempt to transform Julie into the refined person she ought to be. Julie has as of late left herself open to criticism, groveling like a puppy for attention and kindness, putting herself into a position far beneath her station and dignity. However, Kristine takes full advantage Julie's frailty and threatens to leave her employ. A brazen move for a servant, but Strindberg saw the need for change, and LaBute seizes the message and makes it resound brutally loud and clear. Throughout Julie and John spar for the lead, each gaining if only for a bit,before losing ground to the other. Underdog John surprisingly seizes first place. His ploy is so smart, cunning and amusingly sharp-witted that who would not root for him? As for Miss Julie, it's clear from the beginning that beleaguered by a checkered emotional past and without sufficient support and love, she's bound to fail, a heroine doomed to a fate of no return, with or without grace.

The acting is phenomenal. Rabe is brilliantly passionate, showing a Miss Julie with layer upon layer of emotional baggage, a pitiful lady who needs and wants a positive and permanent transition, even though she insist it only be temporary ... but is, alas, fated to never experience it. Marshall-Green is her match, knowing what he wants and how to get it. Loyal servant that John is, when his path is blocked, he circumvents and charges ahead at full steam. Compelling work! Heisler is a great reactor and has surprisingly fine moments in silence. Her departure speech near play's end is an aggressive assault which she delivers flawlessly. Electrifying performances from all three actors all of which make the 100+ minute one-act move along smoothly without a single lag. Bonney's directorial pacing is perfect and the staging fluid from start to finish.

Like LaBute's script with crystal clear intentions from every angle and superb acting and direction, Myung Hee Cho's set design of the downstairs kitchen with its tiled walls, polished floor and large china cabinets is incredibly detailed, meticulously clean - unlike the filth that inhabit it - and commanding. Christina Haatainen Jones' costuming is stunning particularly Rabe's gorgeous print green evening dress worn through most of the act.

For classic purists, Strindbeg's play is all here; LaBute has merely enhanced the message threefold with hisown brilliant words and made it a near to perfect treatise on ruthless behavior and fragile mores that are totally conceivable in contemporary times. Miss Julie is an outstanding evening of theatre, not to be missed!

http://geffenplayhouse.com/

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