Terry Johnson (1) (1955–)

Other than Insignificance, the plays here are pretty weak. While there are some interesting ideas in both of the other plays, the author doesn't develop the ideas well, is all over the lot with extraneous things, and fails to hold onto the interest of the subject matter. Cries from the Mammal House has a lot of promise, and the twist ending is absolutely spectacular, if it had been presented better and the build up had been more sound. These plays look like first drafts that are not yet ready for workshop, let alone production and publication.… (más)

What happens when you get Albert Einstein, Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio, and Senator Joe McCarthy together in a hotel room? Sex, science, and suspicion. Marilyn undertakes to visit the famous Einstein and demonstrate her working knowledge of special relativity; she offers to sleep with him, but soon DiMaggio is knocking on the door demanding she come out. He bursts in, and the discussion leaves science and turns to domestic violence and marital disputes. Einstein takes a room on another floor, leaving DiMaggio and Monroe together. When McCarthy comes to call, further shenanigans ensue. Not a comedy; this play involves serious issues, and explores the idea of who owns the fruits of scientific labors.… (más)

Having graduated from from college and on track to live The American Dream, Benjamin Braddock is not so sure that that is what he really wants or even what that really means. It's 1967, societal paradigms are being deconstructed and Ben's self-assuredness, intelligence, angst and inexperience combine to mire him in months of indecision and a retreat into his parents' home and the arms of Mrs. Robinson. Why, exactly Ben chooses to sleep with the much older, alcoholic, intellectually stunted woman is not clear; but she serves as a foil to Ben's potential. Having lived according to the dictates of mid-century life, she has ended up as damaged goods and has the capacity to keep Ben bogged down. And why Mrs. Robinson chooses to seduce Ben remains equally unclear. She does not seem to gain anything other than immediate gratification from their relationship, though amelioration from the disappointments of her own life are implied. The situation becomes further complicated when Ben is set up on a date with Elaine, Mrs. Robinson's daughter!

The Graduate is a comedy that finds its humor in finding the absurdity of the quotidian. Underneath the ideals of American life is the messy, complicated and bizarre constructs of human emotions and reactions. If you didn't laugh, you might cry; but there are great lines and ripostes written into the script and, the performances of the full cast ensemble show remarkable timing and chemistry. Kathleen Turner and Matthew Rhys reprised their roles as Mrs. Robinson and Ben respectively from the original run ten years ago in the West End.

The L.A. Theater Works production is a live stage reading and the audience's reaction to the exchanges provide the auditory cues for the listener. There are no foley effects, so the audience serves as the relay between the immediate action of the performers and the listener. The audience is always one step ahead, laughing, responding perhaps to the body language or facial expressions of the actors, while the listener waits for the explanatory line. While somewhat disconcerting, the overall performance comes across as fun and funny. You'll wish you had been there!

Redacted from the original blog review at dog eared copy, The Graduate; 04/03/2012… (más)