Review - Buffalo Gal: You Oughta Be In Pictures

If the old chestnut about life imitating art doesn't cross your mind a couple of times during A.R. Gurney's new comedy, Buffalo Gal, you may want to make a copy of The Cherry Orchard part of your subway reading this week. But brushing up your Chekhov isn't completely necessary to enjoy this funny little character study where the Russian playwright's story of the cultured aristocracy falling to the vulgar values of the middle class is replaced by a struggle for artistically conscious live theatre to survive while uninspired sitcoms rake in the bucks and offer immediate stardom.

In a sense, Gurney has cleverly made a cherry orchard out of a production of The Cherry Orchard. Amanda (Susan Sullivan), an Oscar-nominated actress with a few Emmy Awards on her mantle, has been in a career rut lately and has returned to her hometown of Buffalo to appear as Madame Ranevskaya. Another Buffalo Gal, her director Jackie (Jennifer Regan), is happy to have her, for both the prestige it will bring to her theatre company and the chance to validate her career in the eyes of her girlfriend's kids.

But even though Amanda is so anxious to begin rehearsals that she's arrived a day early, her agent seems to be stalling on finalizing her contract. There's the unresolved issue of Jackie wanting a guarantee she will not be replaced if the production moves to Broadway, but of more concern is the fact that the producers of a FOX sitcom Amanda rejected because the role they offered her seemed too ridiculous have been re-tooling the show into something that may be more to her liking. The comparatively cushy TV job seems even more attractive to Amanda when she finds out her intended co-star, an actor she perhaps intented to be her security blanket as she returns to the stage, has left the project. Not accustomed to colorblind casting, she grows more hesitant on finding out the actor replacing him in the role of her brother, Leonid, is black.

While the premise is surely interesting, the dialogue entertaining and director Mark Lamos' Primary Stages production, featuring a solid cast, is continually engrossing, Buffalo Gal remains too lightweight and predictable. The supporting characters are pretty much regulated to playing one note. James Waterston is the efficient stage manager who is there mostly for Jackie to sound off her concerns about Amanda. Carmen M. Herlihy is the know-it-all intern who is too eager to impress. Dathan B. Williams is the charming replacement actor who broadly schmeers on the elegance and Mark Blum is the star-struck friend from Amanda's past. Regan gets maybe a note and a half as the underwritten Jackie, though her tough, realistic view of the Theatre World provides a fine contrast to the romanticism surrounding her.

Sullivan, if not exactly provided with a symphony, has at least an intricate concerto to perform, with the ninety-minute play continually revolving around her. She is quite effective as the actress who hides her insecurities with extravagant graciousness, deeply bowing to everyone she meets, declining the extravagances of a first class hotel room and a private limo, and nervously searching for an exit while assuring everyone she's delighted to be working with them.

Set designer Andrew Jackness and lighting designer Mary Louise Geiger plant us firmly into the nuts and bolts world of local theatre (a lovely backdrop of a cherry orchard hangs above the otherwise drab playing space) and the way Sullivan looks in costume designer Candice Donnelly's white Ranevskaya dress is enough to make you want to hop a plane to Buffalo and buy a ticket.

While not in the same class as Gurney's best work (Love Letters, The Dining Room...) Buffalo Gal still has many worthy moments of charm, grace and humor. And I'm sure it's better than whatever's on FOX tonight.

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