review
"this day and age"
at long beach playhouse
long beach, ca
07 december 98
reviewed by
mark jonas

For years, there's been a listing blurb in Writer's Market in which an established New York theatre producer elucidates what he does not want in contemporary playscripts. His plaint is sharp and amusing: "I do not want back-porch plays, disease-of-the-week plays, father-son or mother-daughter work-it-all-out plays, plays that are really TV or movie scripts, plays that are really 1920s or 1930s plays made 'modern' by modern language."

Damn if he hasn't described Nagle Jackson's "This Day and Age". It's currently running at the Long Beach Playhouse, and while the copyright date on this baby reads 1994, I swear Paul Osborn or Sy Behrman coughed it up from the dead. It's a familiar tale of well-heeled WASPs from back east, a story of New York privilege and sophistication with nothing of the real New York in sight. In short, just the kind of polite "east coast" play of thoughtful, mild disagreement that fricassees west coast theatre critics. (Ironically, Jackson's plays have premiered mostly in Ashland and Denver.)

Call "This Day and Age" the Connecticut "Cherry Orchard", with a twist. Well-heeled widow Marjorie (Sam Dawson) has to deal with a son (Steven Wieber) and a daughter (Diane Taveau) who vow to move back into the nest on the same day, bringing their spouses (Sandra Rae Eberhardt and, on this night, understudy David Allen) along for the gambit. They'll play on Mom's sympathy, run home wounded and extend their childhood while defraying the stress of the real world. But here's the twist: Marjorie has decided to sell the ol' orchard and move on.

Unfortunately, only witty banter ensues. Most of it emanates from Dawson, who nails a richly written role; she's a South Coast Repertory Professional Conservatory graduate who far outdistances the rest of the cast. Director Beverly Redman does a commendable job with Jackson's three-act (Paul Osborn!) structure, especially considering that the whole second act could be cut with minimal damage. The script has laughs, and brains, but it's far too long and its confessions far too safe. This is the kind of play you forget immediately at curtain, and the actors and director can't be blamed.

Outside, the Long Beach Playhouse is getting a new facade. And inside, "This Day and Age" is apparently its idea of "new" and "exciting" programming. Have no fear, "The Mousetrap" goes up next month. In the meantime, enjoy this embalmed corpse of three-act American naturalism, clad in a stylish new outfit.

Fri-Sun thru Dec. 12 at the Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. 562.494.1616.

t2k