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Grangeville.
Paul Sparks Steals The Show.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).Published 33 minutes ago • 3 min read
Robert M. Massimi.
"Grangeville" at The Signature Theatre is a soulful piece written by Samuel D. Hunter and is strongly directed by Jack Serio. As a two actor play, both Brian J. Smith and Paul Sparks work off of each other very well. It Is Sparks, however, that takes the show on his back and carries it over the goal line. As a country bumpkin living in Grangeville, Idaho, Jerry is a strong, but lost soul. He tries to keep what is left of his family together.
In the 90 minutes intermission less show, writer Samuel D Hunter gives us more than what is on the surface. We understand why both children have faced some pretty difficult things as children. Jerry and his half brother Arnold, have a ten year age difference; they grew up in a trailer as their mother was married several times. The two were more of an inconvenience to each other than anything else. Between their age differences and sexual preferences, the two had nothing in common growing up.
"Grangeville" makes the audience think as well as interpret what he has put forth. Why has Arnold run away to Amsterdam? Why is Jerry so mercurial? Why are both on a self destructive course? As the play unfolds we get bits and pieces, but never all the answers; and that is what makes this play so much fun to watch.
In the direction of Serio, Jerry is spot on in his cadence of not only the RV salesman but the lover of Arnold from Amsterdam. Jerry is slow of mind but big in survival. As an adult he wants stability between his wife and children as well as his mother and brother. In Arnold, the director brings the frustration of this character sporadically. As an artist he was more successful when he was younger painting American gas stations and Dairy Queens, otherwise known as dioramas. The artistic choices that he makes later in his life have cost him dearly.
As the two characters play the blame game (Arnold more than Jerry), Hunter opens up the play by bringing their lives deeper into dialogue. This is a play that begins in the dark after all and only sheds a little light on the actors ten minutes into the show. This is symbolic because Hunter shows us that being in the dark is blissful and the light sheds the problems on the actors and their lives. We are basically asked... is it better to just go along in the dark and not think or worry about the problems that lie ahead, or the bad memories behind us?
The brothers are living in two different worlds; Arnold is in the art world; Jerry stayed where he grew up, simple and forthright. Ricky Reynoso's costumes should have signified this better. While Jerry's costume was perfect, Arnold should have been dressed more like an artist; the rag tag pants and sneakers were not convincing at all.
"Grangeville" is one of the better off Broadway shows I have seen this year. The story kept the audience locked in from start to finish. The writing is layered very well and is constructive. We can empathize with both characters; how they deal with their problems is most interesting. How it is directed is what keeps us on edge.
"Grangeville" is playing at The Signature Theatre which has been putting out some really great shows as of late. Like this play, there has been many interesting shows like this one that are deep and entertaining; shows like "Sabbath's Theatre and "Babe" just to name a few have been superb.
New York City, Obie Awards, Tony Awards.
About the Creator
Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).
I have been writing on theater since 1982. A graduate from Manhattan College B.S. A member of Alpha Sigma Lambda, which recognizes excellence in both English and Science. I have produced 14 shows on and off Broadway. I've seen over700 shows
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