Review: INTIMATE APPAREL by Lynn Nottage at Bay Street Theatre

Intimate Apparel by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage is the second offering in Bay Street Theatre's spectacular 26th season. Excellently directed by Bay Street's Artistic Director Scott Schwartz, the show runs through July 30th at the charming Long Island venue. And I have to say that this is certainly one for the books.

The heart tugging, gripping play, based on the life of Ms. Nottage's great-grandmother, is set in New York City in the year 1905. The story centers on Esther, an African-American seamstress of intimate apparel. Her customers, some of whom we meet in the tale, range from society women to ladies of the night. After several women from the boarding house where she lives marry and leave, she wonders about her future and when this will happen for her. She then begins to receive romantic letters from a lonesome Caribbean man named George who is working on the Panama Canal. After this, a number of twists and turns transpire.

Grey's Anatomy star Kelly McCreary is thrilling as Esther; she is stoic and keeps moving forward in the face of adversity... truly an inspirational woman. Also a highlight of the sensational cast is Portia who portrays Ms. Dickson who runs the boarding house where Esther lives. A bright and powerful persona make Portia a natural for the no-nonsense Ms. Dickson.

Truth be told, everyone in the six person cast is truly extraordinary as is the production team.

Jeff Cowie's clever set for the intimate venue is generally minimal and the stage includes a moving portion. A bed sits center and throughout the performance they place different dressings on it (different pillows, blankets/comforters, ext.) to differentiate the locations. To add, different pieces of furniture (a vanity set, small piano, ext) are on the moving portion of the stage. Mike Billings' lighting is also integral to each location; the store where Esther buys her fabric, her friends' apartment, Esther's room at her boarding house, the posh home of Mrs. Van Buren, one of Esther's customers comically portrayed by Julia Motyka. Emilio Sosa's costumes are absolutely dazzling as well and are wonderfully accentuated with Meg Murphy's hair and make-up design. And special kudos to Stephen Gabis who is the dialect coach for the cast.

And so, Intimate Apparel is indeed another hit for Sag Harbor's Bay Street Theatre. I am truly honored to have seen this piece. An outstanding cast and enthralling story make for an exhilarating night of theatre.

Intimate Apparel is presented by the Bay Street Theatre of Sag Harbor, Long Island, through July 30th. For more information and to purchase tickets, please call 631-725-9500 or visit www.baystreet.org

By Lynn Nottage, Directed by Scott Schwartz, Composed by Michael Holland, Set Design by Jeff Cowie, Lighting Design by Mike Billings, Costume Design by Emilio Sosa, Hair & Make-Up Design by Meg Murphy, Sound Design by Jill B.C. DuBoff, Props Design by Andrew Diaz, Stage Management by Gwen Gilliam, Dialect Coaching by Stephen Gabis, Casting by Stewart/Whitley.

Starring Kelly McCreary (Grey's Anatomy, Passing Strange), Portia (Ruined, McReele, Our Lady of 121st Street), Blake DeLong (Othello, Natasha... the Great Comet of 1812), Julia Motyka (Bay Street's Travesties, Richard III), Edward O'Blenis (Uncle Vanya, Tall Grass), and Shayna Small (The Colored Museum)

Photos by Lenny Stucker