BWW Reviews: Center Stage's WORKING IT OUT Doesn't Work

I have to admit I was not thrilled with the decision by Center Stage to experiment with long plays, short plays, readings, and a cabaret this season. The season so far, however, has met my expectations until now.

Working It Out is a compilation of three short plays (each shortened some more). When you walk into the theater, actors on stage are getting ready for "Washed Up on the Potomac" by Lynn Rosen which could pass as an episode of the hit televison series "The Office" but is less funny. How funny is it? Not at all. It's about proof readers and the possibility they may lose their jobs. For some unknown reason, there's a man who walks back and forth behind the set like sometimes happens on the "Late Show with David Letterman". Who is this guy and why is he walking back and forth?

But the play actually opens with a scene that takes place at the side of the orchestra. The stage us so huge, this made no sense especially for those who had trouble seeing what was going on if you were sitting in the balcony to the right. This play by Rick Cleveland is called "Jerry and Tom" (not Tom and Jerry although it involved cartoon characters). This play is about hit-men, goes back and forth in time, and makes no sense.  What is especially troubling is the murder that occurs in the midst of the audience towards the end of the evening.  Some audience members were not especially amused. I can't believe Cleveland turned his 1994 one-act play into a film in 1998.

The only redeeming aspect of the evening was a short play by the great Aaron Sorkin, noted for his terrific televison series, "The West Wing". This story was taken from the interesting film "Sweet Liberty" starring Alan Alda. The director of a film, played by the talented Joseph Wycoff (who looks a little bit like Sorkin), is waiting to film the final scene of a film at sunset when unexpectedly,  cows ruin the shot. It sounds weird, but I did actually enjoy this section.

Working it Out ends its run this Sunday, March 28. For tickets, call 410-332-0033 or visit www.centerstage.org.

Next on the agenda is August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom featuring E. Faye Butler. which runs April 7 to May 9. 

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

 

 

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