BWW Reviews: CLEVER LITTLE LIES at GSP - A Theatrical Jewel, Starring Marlo Thomas

Clever Little Lies is an exceptional new play now showing at the George Street Playhouse (GSP) through December 22nd that smartly deals with a real-life dilemma, marital infidelity. Written by Joe DiPietro and directed by GSP's Artistic Director, David Saint, the 90 minute production is performed without an intermission and is captivating from the first moment.

Clever Little Lies features a stellar cast; Marlo Thomas as Alice, the exuberant, loving wife and mother; Greg Mullavey as Bill Sr., an earnest family man; Jim Stanek as Bill Jr., a young lawyer; and Kate Wetherhead as Jane, Bill Jr.'s wife. The talented quartet of actors master their roles perfectly.

In the first scene, Bill Jr. stuns his father with a locker room confession of his extramarital affair. Bill Sr. is shocked, yet he promises to keep the disclosure a secret from Alice.

At home in the evening, Alice realizes something is amiss and prods Bill Sr. into revealing their son's infidelity. A family visit from Bill Jr., Jane and their newborn daughter sets the scene for real conflict between the young couple. Humor abounds as Bill Sr. and Alice try to hide Bill Jr.'s affair from Jane.

The play offers well placed quirky moments when Bill Jr. describes his love affair to his father, Alice deftly tries to maintain her positive spirit, Jane breaks out information about recently read studies, and Bill Sr. swigs a drink or two to deal with the scene in his living room. Yet, the family saga continues to escalate with revelations and reflections that underscore the meaning of "clever little lies."

Clever Little Lies has just the right dose of comedy; the dialogue and interaction between the characters is warm, witty, and real. The audience feels an intimate part of the events unfolding onstage.

"A Mother always knows," or does she? Clever Little Lies makes you to think about marriage and fidelity and it is a completely entertaining theatrical experience. Metropolitan area audiences should not miss an opportunity to see this jewel of a performance.

George Street Playhouse is conveniently located in downtown New Brunswick in the dining and entertainment district with convenient parking and it is easily accessed by mass transit. For ticketing and information, visit the George Street Playhouse web site at www.georgestreetplayhouse.org or call their box office at (732) 246-7717.

Photo Credit: T. Charles Erickson