BWW Reviews: STICK FLY at Everyman Theatre

In the Stick Fly program, Artistic Director Vince Lancisi thanked Everyman board member Susan Fleishman for recommending the play to him.  He stated, "I love it when supporters see a play that moves them and tell me about it. Sometimes their recommendations end up on our stage."

It was about a year ago that I saw the play done at the Arena Stage. I was so enamored with it, I also recommended it to Lancisi and I was so excited when I saw he decided to present the play this season. What I didn't know is that he would pick himself to direct it.  As it turned out, it was a wise decision because he does a masterful job with Lydia Diamond's thought-provoking, entertaining, and funny play.

One thing Diamond should change is the name of the play. Since the play takes place in Martha's Vineyard, why not "A Week-End in the Vineyard" or "Does Father Know Best?"

The play gets its title from the fact that Taylor (the superb Erika Rose) collects insects and studies them after capturing them on a stick that is covered with glue.  One can understand the rationale for the title since each character gets examined like they are under a microscope but I still believe the title must go.

The set by James Fouchard is one of the most exquisite and expensive ones I've seen at the Everyman. As the play opens the furniture is covered under sheets. There is an outdoor deck to the left, a modern kitchen to the right where there's even a bag from the famous Martha's Vineyard restaurant "The Black Dog".  In the center is living room which has inviting leather couches, a Waterford wine goblet, a stained glass door, a wide variety of art, and a staircase leading to the bedrooms upstairs.

The play is about a very successful family who owe the  big beautiful summer home on the Vineyard to the matriarch of the family married to Dr. Joe LeVay, a very successful neurosurgeon.  There are two crucial characters in the play, Mrs. LeVay and the family maid. Each plays an integral part in the proceedings but neither appears in the play.

LeVay has two sons, Flip (Kevin Jiggets) who is  a plastic surgeon and Kent (Kevin McAllister) who after pursuing higher education for an inordinate amount of time, has settled on becoming a writer. 

Each of the two sons brings a woman to the Vineyard.

Kent is the first son who arrives with his fiancé, Taylor (Rose) who is also a doctor (doing her post-doctorate in entomology at Johns Hopkins).

Flip arrives alone but adds that his girl-friend Kimber (Kaytie Morris), who teaches in the inner-city, is arriving shortly.

Finally, there's Cheryl (Shannon A. L. Dorsey), the daughter of the regular housekeeper subbing for her ailing mother. She's has attended a prestigious high school in New York and is about to search for a college to attend.

Well, there it is. But, I've left out one important factor and that is the aspect of race. All but Kimber are Black (and she's announced as NOT being White but Italian). And face it. When was the last play you saw about a Black family with this pedigree.

Sure the LeVays are affluent.  But sparks will fly and long-hidden secrets will be revealed. Race and class become pivotal issues.

It's a play filled with comedy, drama , and board games. Characters play Scrabble, Backgammon, and Trivial Pursuit.

One aspect of the play does annoy me. There is a scene when characters stage right speak, then stop, then characters stage left speak and this goes on for a while. It was like watching a tennis match with my head bobbing back and forth.

I am so tempted to tell you what happens...but I won't reveal the many surprises that develop.

I truly believe that Stick Fly has potential for Broadway. But see it at the Everyman first. You will not be disappointed.

For tickets, call410-752-2208 or visit www.everymantheatre.org.

Next up at the Everyman, G.B. Shaw's classic Pygmalion running May 18 to June 19, 2011.

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

 

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