BWW Previews: Nilo Cruz' ALICE N. at Theatre Lab
By: Trevor Durham Oct. 06, 2017
"There I found freedom, not security," Elizabeth Price is reciting. A row behind me, to my right, Nilo Cruz sits with his chin in his hand, as Louis Tyrrell crosses his legs, succinctly pleased with the progress. Rehearsals for the very first reading of Cruz' newest work, Alice N., are moving along with the five performers flowing through Cruz' poetic script and Theatre Lab's black box transporting through time and countries to prepare for audiences. Alice N. will conclude the opening festival of this year's opening Playwright's Forum and Master Class Series on Nilo Cruz' works. Tonight, a sold out reading of Sotto Voce will kick things off with his underrated cult smash, and tomorrow, a series of monologues titled East and West of the War are heating up for delivery. But here, in the midst of Alice N.'s birth, the cascading beauty of Cruz' voice is smart and piercing.
"We like to be part of the path," Matt Stabile says as he puts finishing touches on the evening's events. As the Associate Artistic Director, the festival of Cruz is an honor, but as important as any business in the arts can be. Between verifying playbill copy and greeting Cruz as he arrives, Stabile is certainly keeping busy. Along with Lauren Palmieri, the Company Manager, the preparations for this weekend seem to be coming together as fluidly as one of Cruz' works.
Stabile explains that the magical weekend came together thanks to director Tyrrell, who has worked with Cruz for almost two decades. Also along for the ride is Carlos Orizondo, one of the original Coral Gables cast of the Pulitzer Prize winning Anna in the Tropics, playing Don Enriquez with his expected swagger. The connections may facilitate the magic, but each person keeping hard at work seem to be just as tight as family with the playwright and director.
The story of Alice N. is historical and true- Alice Neel, the American portrait artist, is a fascinating figure that Cruz seeks to examine. The Alice Neel Estate commissioned Cruz to write her story, and he did it in a fresh and innovative way that best matched her art. Most of the script revolves around her time in the Philadelphia General Hospital's sanitorium, and how her past love and art crushed her so thoroughly. Cruz uses his dialogue as a paint brush, mimicking the expressionist and emotional nature of Neel's works to communicate the tragic beauty of her life. The script contains all the characteristic rhythm and flow that brought Cruz to his fame, and audiences who manage to come to this premiere reading will find themselves lost in his waves.
Structurally, the play is told in a revolution around Alice (played by the subtle and emotive Elizabeth Price), in the vein of How I Learned to Drive or Proof. As she relives her days in Dr. Ludlum's office (the powerful Paul Carlin takes this duty with delicate strength), her love and tribulations are laid out in a flowing pattern that brings back the timeless tale of loss.
The opportunity to see works this original come to life in such an intimate, talented setting is a rarity no matter where you live (excepting New York, of course). Even harder to find is a show with a script as raw as Cruz', or the opportunity to meet with the playwright and hold a talk-back following the performance. Alice N. plays this once, a blessing on south Florida, before vanishing back into the ocean breeze as Nilo Cruz plays are prone to do. An unforgettable play, with a sharp cast, and an even sharper director, make the main event of the Playwright's Forum and Playwrighting Masterclass Series an unmissable event.
Alice N. plays October 7th at 7:30pm, at the Theatre Lab, the professional resident company of FAU. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door, but supplies are limited. There will be a talk-back following the show with playwright Nilo Cruz.
East and West of the War plays October 7th at 2:00pm, at the Theatre Lab. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
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