 |
June 1997 |
"Alone
Together"
at Mendocino Theater Company
George and Helene Butler (J.R. Patterson
and Anne Jenks)
in MTC's production of "Alone Together."
| Ah, the euphoria! Pack off
the last son to college with a bag of chicken salad sandwiches and a kiss, and contemplate
life alone together at last! What harried parent hasn't looked forward to that wonderful
time of life? That's the situation Helene and George Butler find themselves in as 19-year-old Keith heads off for the University of Washington at the opening of Lawrence Roman's wonderfully funny comedy Alone Together. The Butler's are in their fifties. Life is good. Finances are OK. Oldest son Michael has a research job in mathematics at MIT, while middle son Elliott is married and living with his wife in Dallas. And, if life hasn't always been a bowl of cherries, love and caring abounds. Visions of classes at UCLA, travel to far off places and love with open doors abound. Then, guess what... Michael decides Boston and research aren't for him and returns to the nest unannounced. He's followed almost immediately thereafter by the philandering Elliott, whose wife has given him an unceremonious heave-ho. Add to the mix college freshman Janie, who shows up at the door looking for a temporary home, and Helene and George have a real situation on their hands. How this all gets resolved makes for a very funny evening's entertainment. Beyond the humor, Alone Together is truthful. The dialog rings happily in our ears. No TV sitcom this. Roman has written the play with care, and it's all the funnier for his efforts. |
Director Bob Cohen has put together
what he considers to be a first-rate ensemble of actors for the show. Anne Jenks (Helene)
appeared Off-off Broadway in plays like Stage Door, and was a founding member of
Theatre of Light in Los Angeles. Anne is a teacher at Mendocino Middle School. J.R. Patterson (George) has had a long career in theater on both sides of the Atlantic. Locally, he appeared in Other People's Money and Reckless at MTC, and directed this season's opening production 6 Rms Riv Vu. One of the greatest strengths of the MTC company right now is its corps of young acting talent. Alone Together will showcase four members of this group. Yosha Ellis (Michael), a founding member of MTC's Young Actors Guild, had featured roles in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, I Hate Hamlet and The White Rose. Jason Gibson (Elliott) has appeared in MTC's production of The White Rose. Also appearing in Alone Together are Rachel Archuletta (Janie) and Nathan Johnson (Keith). Alone Together previews Thursday, June 12, and opens Saturday, June 14. It continues at 8:00 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays, through July 20, at the Helen Schoeni Theatre. Call the box office, 937-4477, for information and reservations. |
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
(707) 937-5724 FAX: (707) 937-1764
PO Box 765, Mendocino CA 95460
