Group Rep Feels Spring with Sweet Sue

Sweet Sue
by A. R. Gurney
directed by Ernest A. Figueroa
Group rep @ Lonny Chapman, NoHo
through April 25

Middle-aged women will love A. R. Gurney's play Sweet Sue about a woman's desire for a younger man. Currently on stage at Group rep, Sweet Sue receives a fine, extremely well-acted production helmed by artistic director Ernest Figueroa.

Sue tells the story of an illustrator who plans to spend her summer in the process of change. Instead of painting trees, she longs to paint the male physique. When her son's college roommate Jake comes to stay for the summer break, she gradually but secretly - they don't call her sweet Sue for nothing - turns most of her attentions to him, and not always in a motherly way. Sue is insecure about her age, as she is old enough to be Jake's mom and fearful that if her son finds out about her infatuation for his best friend, all hell will break loose. Jake also wants to change his technique, so to speak: he wants to buckle down and concentrate on one woman rather than have a meaningless series of sexual trysts.

Gurney presents us with an interesting gimmick. Two actors play Susan and two play Jake. Sometimes they are all onstage together, sometimes just two at a time. Sometimes both males are alone; sometimes just the two females. Sometimes the male and female actors change partners. Sound confusing? It really isn't. It's like having your alter ego there looking over your shoulder and commenting about what you say and do or what you should or shouldn't say or do.
At times, the two egos are in direct conflict; at other times, they are just an extension of each other, like finishing a thought. It all makes sense; it just gets a tad tedious after a while. There's a lot of talk about expectations and fears, but we have to wait what seems a very long time before either makes a romantic move toward the other. When it finally does happen - the May to December romance - it seems incomplete and unsatisfying. But, as I stated earlier, although a man has penned it, the perspective is pretty much from the female point of view, so most women will love it.

Figueroa marvelously directs a wonderful ensemble. Sharing the role of Susan are Laurie Morgan and Janet Wood, both seasoned performers. Morgan has such a loveable personality and natural quality to her acting, that she is perfect as the motherly and intelligent side of Sue. Wood is tantalizing in the less cerebral, more sensual moments, especially wearing evening attire. Sean McGee and Brandon Irons play Jake so well that it is practically impossible to tell where one side of Jake leaves off and the other begins. And this is a challenging acting exercise for all four, as they must be attuned to both sides of their characters. That means learning double the number of lines and making it all make sense to one another and to the audience. The four accomplish this task beautifully.

Trefoni Michael Rizzi has designed a lovely attic apartment, and all of the art work in the theatre is painted by the talented Laurie Morgan. Talk about life imitating art!

I have difficulty with some of the play. I would prefer to see the son and his girlfriends played by actors; I had a hard time accepting their offstage presence. Maybe some offstage voices? A voice mail from a digruntled son left for Susan on her machine? Something tangible. I was also let down by the abrupt ending. Susan finds an extension of herself, but what about she and Jake? Are a couple of months enough? But this is writer Gurney's choice. Many would argue that it wasn't meant to last anyway.

A lovingly executed production and a feather in group rep's hat.

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