BWW Reviews: St.Louis Actors' Studio's Intense Production of CLOSER

Patrick Marber's play Closer is an intriguing examination of the way men and women interact with one another, particularly with regards to their vastly differing ideas as to what love and commitment actually mean. The story itself is fascinating and frustrating, in equal measure, as we watch four damaged, and generally unlikable and selfish, characters struggle with their wants and desires as they desperately search for happiness. What's absolutely certain is that Marber's play requires a quartet of actors who are firing on all cylinders in order for it to truly take hold of an audience. Fortunately, the St. Louis Actors' Studio has assembled a terrific cast for their current production, and they manage to make these (mostly) unsympathetic characters both engaging and compelling.

Dan, an aspiring writer who works in the obituary department of a local newspaper in London (would that be considered a dead end job?), meets Alice, a mysterious and sexy young girl, when she absentmindedly wanders into the path of an oncoming car, something she apparently does with some regularity. He takes her to the hospital for treatment and something develops between them. Although, it's fair to say that this is a mostly one-sided love affair.

Dan ends up turning Alice's life story into the material that constitutes his first novel, and he gains a bit of notoriety, even if the book doesn't sell particularly well. Along the way he encounters Anna, a photographer who's separated from her husband, and he becomes immediately smitten. But Dan is living with Alice when they meet, and though they both feel a spark, Anna remains noncommittal. Out of the blue, Dan decides to log on to a sex chat site on the Internet, and interestingly enough, winds up inadvertently playing cupid for Larry, a dermatologist, and Anna. But that's only one of the wrinkles that Marbers throws into his plot, as he attempts to confound our expectations.

Christopher Lawyer is splendid as the duplicitous lout Dan, who initially seems like a pretty nice guy, until Marber begins to explore his darker tendencies. Rachel Fenton is also very good as Alice. Sure, the character is a bit immature, and far too devoted to Dan, who will never live up to her expectations, but she seems to be only one who has a firm grasp on what love means to her. Megan Maguire gives a strong performance as Anna, and though you root for her to make the right choices, she seems destined to undo any chance she'll ever have at happiness. John Pierson does stellar work as Dr. Larry, who at first appears to be a sad victim of a practical joke, until he hooks up with Anna.

The ensemble work here is exceptional, and that's a credit to both the cast and director Wayne Salomon, who keeps the tension building from the get go. The effect is enhanced by scenic and lighting designer Partick Huber, whose stark, box shaped set, keeps the action neatly reigned in. A few pull out pieces, and some subtle changes in mood lighting, allow for quick transitions between scene locations. Bonnie Kruger's costumes are good character fits, with Fenton's revealing strip club outfit making a particularly vivid impression.

The St. Louis Actors' Studio's production of Closer is very well done, and it continues through February 27, 2011 at the Gaslight Theater.

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