Review: UNDER THE SKIN at Everyman Theatre - A Poignant and Powerful Play

As I begin writing my review, for some reason I started singing George Gershwin's wonderful song, "I've Got You Under The Skin"...I'm sorry, that's "Under My Skin".

In any event, Everyman Theatre is presenting Michael Hollinger's insightful and funny new play UNDER THE SKIN. It's only the second time the play has been performed. It premiered at Philadelphia's Arden Theatre a year ago where all of his plays get their start.

Hollinger is no stranger to Everyman. Artistic Director Vince Lancisi has previously brought two of his plays to Baltimore, OPUS and RED HERRING.

When Lancisi traveled to Philadelphia to see UNDER THE SKIN, he immediately knew he had to bring it to Everyman and we are so glad he did.

While the play deals with kidney transplants, the author stresses the essence of his play concerns "family issues - relations between parents and children, betrayals, secrets, addiction, affairs, estrangements, etc...through the high-stakes lens of organ transplantation." (Read the incisive interview conducted by Dramaturg/Artistic Associate at www.everyman.org.)

It is at its heart, a play about forgiveness. It's also about scars, whether they are emotional scars that one suffers or physical scars for the both the donor and the recipient of a transplant.

The "fourth wall " is broken from the beginning as the four actors address the audience. We are told, "This story is not about kidneys but about the human heart, the boundaries of the body, and the limits of love". It ends the same way.

The central figure of the play is Lou who has lived a life full of lies. An established carpenter who specializes in restoration, especially old staircases, he has a daughter, Raina. Lou, left his wife and Raina blames him for her mother smoking and dying because of this. Lou has been estranged from his daughter and hasn't even seen his four year old grand-daughter. Oh...he also never attended the funeral of his ex-wife after being urged to do so by Raina.

Raina fled her hometown of Philadelphia for Toledo, Ohio, to get a fresh start at life.

Everything changes when Lou suddenly arrives at her doorstep with the news that he's ill and wonders if she wouldn't mind being a kidney donor. Now think for a moment...what would you do??

While this is a very serious subject, the play is filled with humor. That is what drew Lancisi to add the play to this season's line-up.

He also decided to take up the task of Directing and what a superb job he does.

Playing the role of Lou is the superb Mitchell Hebert who has appeared all over the local theater landscape from UNCLE VANYA at Everyman to SUNDAY IN THE PARK at the Signature to his memorable performance in CLYBOURNE PARK at Woolly Mammoth where he was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award. Look for him to direct CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF at Bethesda's Round House Theatre in April. He reminded so much of the Academy Award winning actor J.K. Simmons who won for "Whiplash".

Everyman Resident Company Member Megan Anderson gives a riveting performance as Lou's daughter Raina who is faced with a complex decision. How does one do this? She makes a long list of pros and cons. The list is many pages long and they all deal with "cons".

Baltimore School of the Arts' Alumnus (and NYU's acclaimed Tisch School of the Arts) Keith L. Royal Smith returns to Everyman after his great work in RUINED has two roles, first as Lou's understanding nurse, Hector, and then as Jarrell, who meets Raina while she is considering filling out the immense paper work necessary for a donation.

Also playing two roles is the exceptionally talented Alice M. Gatling, making her Everyman debut. Gatling originated these roles in Philadelphia. Not only does she play Lou's heavy -accented African-born doctor but undertakes the very moving role of Marline, Jarrell's mother, who has a complex, long, and tough background , yet is full of love and understanding. Gatling shines in both her roles.

There are surprises galore and you will be shocked at how Act I ends.

One of the best lines of the play concerns a conversation between the Dr. Badu and Raina.
"Do you want to do this? Badu asks Raina. "I want to be the kind of person who would," she replies.

Jay A. Herzog, Everyman's Resident Lighting Designer for 20 years is celebrating this 50th production at Everyman. Herzog has a special connection to the production since he just celebrated his one-year anniversary of liver transplant. His lighting as always demonstrates his considerable skills.

Scenic Designer Brandon McNeel's set is clever as it swivels from a hospital room to a café with huge swinging doors that allow easy access to scene changes. Ivania Stack is the Costume Designer is does capable work. Stowe Nelson's Sound Design was fine but at times seemed to me annoying.

Everyman should be applauded for its multi-faceted community engagement partnership with four organ donation organizations: The Living Legacy Foundation, The Kidney Foundation of Maryland, Donate Life Maryland, and TRIO Maryland. These organizations will be sharing information with audiences in the theater lobby. The partnership will culminate with a special event on February 14, 2016 when following the matinee, patrons will be invited to listen to and share their experiences with fellow organ donors, recipients, and their families. At every performance, there will be representatives from the partner organizations available to discuss organ donations and transplants.

And for every ticket sold using the code KFMD, the Kidney Foundation of Maryland will receive a donation of $5 per ticket.

The program provides fascinating information about transplants. There are almost three million registered organ donors in Maryland, an individual donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation, Kidney Disease is the 9th leading cause of death in the U.S., and on an average day, 2,783 Marylanders await a kidney for transplantation.

On Thursday, January 28 there is the Taste of Everyman, on February 6 "The World of the Play" at 5 p.m., "Cast Conversations on Thursday, February 11.

Following the performance I observed I thoroughly enjoyed "Nightcap Chats" with the cast.

Next up at Everyman is "The Great American Rep" where from April 6 to June 12 will present two plays at once in repertory: DEATH OF A SALESMAN and A STREETCAR NAME DESIRE.

And on Saturday night, March 12, 2016, you can attend a FREE event entitled "The Great American Rep REVEAL and 25th Anniversary Party". The event will feature behind the scenes presentations, backstage tours, activities, and more.

UNDER THE SKIN continues until Feb. 21, 2016 For tickets, call410-752-2208 or visit www.everymantheatre.org.

THIS AND THAT

There has never been a time when Broadway musicals are getting so much exposure on television.

Congratulations to Rachel Bloom for receiving the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Comedy or Musical for "My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend". You can catch the show which features many musical numbers Monday nights on the CW at 8 p.m.

Also don't miss the ABC series "Galavant" Sunday nights at 8 p.m. which features musical numbers from Alan Menken. Get ready for GREASE: LIVE on Fox, January 31, 2016. Thomas Kail, Director of the hit musical HAMILTON, is directing his first fling at television. The creative team includes Baltimore's Marc Platt, producer of WICKED and HAMILTON scenic designer David Korins.

GREASE:LIVE will thankfully incorporate an audience (unlike the three NBC television musicals). The action will take place both on a sound stage and outside (a full-scale carnival).

Sandy is played by Julianne Hough ("Dancing With the Stars"), Danny by Aaron Tveit (Signature's DINER and Arena's NEXT TO NORMAL, and Rizzo by Vanessa Hudgens (GIGI at the Kennedy Center). Choreography is by Zach Woodlee ("Glee"). There will be elements of both the film and stage version and there will be two new songs by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (NEXT TO NORMAL). Didi Conn will also be in it as a Frosty Palace waitress. Boyz II Men will perform in the Teen Angel role .

Also just announced that NBC's next musical will be HAIRSPRAY.

ABC is working on DIRTY DANCING with Andy Blankenbuehler (HAMILTON) doing the chorography.

Speaking of Blankenbuehler, he will choreograph CATS which will return to Broadway this summer. Previews begin July 14 with an opening on August 2 at the Neil Simon Theater.

Finally, Baltimore's own Pippa Pearthree will be in the new Broadway cast of TUCK EVERLASTING. The cast also includes Carolee Carmello and Terrence Mann. It will be directed by Casey Nicholaw.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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