Uncle Jacques' Symphony

There is a special thrill in watching a gifted actor jump rapidly from one role to another. It gives the actor chance to display his versatility, and lets the audience experience the joy of watching a chameleon change right before our eyes. Uncle Jacques' Symphony, a new one-man play written and performed by Dominic Hoffman at the Soho Playhouse, offers that special thrill in abundance. 

The play, a sort of male variation on Jane Martin's Talking With..., is a series of barely- connected monologues, each one plunging us into the minds of characters of differing gender, race, and backgrounds. Every role is played by Mr. Hoffman, and he rises to the challenge with great gusto and flair. Whether portraying a man or a woman, black, white or Latin, American or foreign, young or old, classy or classless, Mr. Hoffman lets each character fill every inch of his being, from his body to his eyes to his voice, and finds the heart of each person he portrays. It is truly delightful to watch him segue at will from character to character, and to forget that each vivid person is played by the same man.

But while Mr. Hoffman creates fascinating characters physically on the stage, he does not create them as strongly on the page. There is no real reason given for meeting each character at this specific moment in his or her life, and as such, not very much inherent drama. As written, the monologues are rather like snapshots– some of them capturing a moment that sums up a life, but most of them merely saying "I was here." Everyday life can be fascinating in the hands of the right playwright, but when we only have ten minutes with each character, we need a clear reason to want to hear their thoughts. Some moments are truly poignant and powerful, such as a baseball-loving woman noting the irony of her criminal son getting caught in the "three-strikes-you're-out" law, or a bookie giving the eulogy for his drug-dealing friend, but many of the monologues would be somewhat forgettable were it not for Mr. Hoffman's excellent performance.

But what a performance it is! Even with the relative weaknesses of the script, the evening is more than worthwhile if only for the chance to see Mr. Hoffman transform every fiber of his being to become each character. It is a remarkable experience, and thrilling to behold.

Uncle Jacques' Symphony is running at the SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street), Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8:00, and Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00. Running time is 90 minutes. Please call 212-691-1555 for tickets.