BWW Reviews: A VIEW OF THE MOUNTAINS Now at NJ Rep - Don't Miss It!

Whatever your political views are, you will want to see A View of the Mountains onstage at New Jersey Repertory Company (NJ Rep) though May 25th. This thought provoking play is laced with humor and presents an insightful view of the current polarized landscape in American politics.

Written by renowned playwright Lee Blessing and directed by Evan Bergman, the play reveals stark differences in peoples' worldviews while weaving together an engaging story of an estranged family. A View of the Mountains is the sequel to Blessing's highly acclaimed play, A Walk in the Woods that garnered him nominations for the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize.

In this exceptional show, John Honeyman (John Little) is a former arms negotiator who represented the United States in the early 1980's. Now thirty years later, he is remarried to Isla (Katrina Ferguson) and living a peaceful life in their mountain home along the Hudson River. John's son, Will (Michael Zlabinger), the Junior Senator from Tennessee and a rising star in the Republican Party, arrives for a visit with his wife Gwynn (Eva Kaminsky). It is an uncomfortable and bitter reunion filled with anger and threats. John and Isla also have a teenage son, Andrey (Jon Erik Nielsen/Jared Rush) who is visiting a friend and misses much of the encounter.

The cast plays their parts to perfection. The relationship between John and Will is made worse by their strong, unwavering views and personal grudges. John even states, "It's humiliating that my son has become such a phony." While Isla makes a few attempts to reconcile them, she is thwarted by the Gwynn who is wholly focused on Will's political success. Gwynn's obnoxious behavior contributes a great deal to the group's tension with her suspicions of "bugs" and tainted food.

As the visit spins out of control, family secrets surface and threaten any hope of reconciliation. The foursome even has a heated physical encounter. While the plot may sound serious, Blessing has struck just the right tenor with thoughtfully placed comic relief, well defined characters and quick, clever dialogue.

A View of the Mountains is an excellent piece of theatre, wonderfully staged, with a stellar cast. Metropolitan area audiences should not miss an opportunity to see it now through May 25th. Performances are on Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 pm; Saturdays at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm; and Sundays at 2:00 pm. New Jersey Repertory Company is located at 179 Broadway in Long Branch. For tickets, call (732) 229-3166 or visit, www.njrep.org.

Photo Credit: SuzAnne Barabas