BWW Reviews: Day 2 – AFTER THE REVOLUTION

Well, Dear Readers, here it is.  The long awaited Day 2.  The first part of the day was just getting settled in and hanging out with a friend.  And then I went and saw my only show of the day.  So let's jump in.

AFTER THE REVOLUTION

A new work from playwright Amy Herzog, the story follows the Joseph family as they struggle with fostering their beliefs in 1999.  A family steeped in the Marxist tradition, the Grandfather who was blacklisted during the McCarthy hearings has passed away.  His granddaughter, Emma (Katharine Powell), has just graduated College and already has her life on track promoting her family's values through a fund named after her Grandfather Joe set up to help people they feel are not being treated fairly by our government.  This only comes as a source of pride for her family, her father Ben (Peter Friedman), her Step-Mother Mel  (Mare Winningham), her Uncle Leo (Mark Blum), her Grandmother Vera (Lois Smith), her sister Jess (Meredith Holzman) and of course her boyfriend Miguel (Elliot Villar) who works with her at the fund.  So when her Uncle gets advance notice of some information about Joe that is about to be published in a book, Emma's world is turned on end as she discovers that her hero may not be as perfect as her mind has made him out to be.  A wonderful view into three generations of a family as they each deal with a secret coming to light in their own way.

The entire ensemble cast is sublime.  Each one adds into this rich tapestry a unique and real performance.  But then with a killer ensemble like this how can you go wrong?  Powell is great as the daughter who is coming to grips with the truth of her family.  Friedman is stunning as the father who is conflicted between honoring his father and their values and understanding where his daughter is coming from.  Smith is glorious as the matriarch of the family and her final moment of the play hits you like a sledgehammer.  And David Margulies is hysterical and moving at the same time as a friend of the family and potential donor to the fund with ulterior motives of his own.

All in all a truly lovely story and an interesting look into a world that many of us may not get to see.  But beyond the politics, it really just boils down to the dynamics of a close knit family and how the values and ideals shift over the generations proving there really is no black or white when it comes to family.

AFTER THE REVOLUTION plays at Playwrights Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theater (416 West 42nd Street).  For Tickets contact Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or visit the theater online at www.playwrightshorizons.org.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

To post a comment, you must register and login.