The official opening of Milwaukee's fall theater season now opens in August, a month when many Milwaukeeans are still distracted by a nice day at the lake, or perhaps are planning to attend one of the superlative summer festivals that enliven the city at this time of year. In mid-August, there's also a very popular food and music festival at the local zoo, which packs in thousands of visitors and probably makes the animals wonder what in the world is going on. Serious theatergoers, however, should certainly focus their attention on an exciting new work by playwright/director Nagle Jackson. (Milwaukee "old-timers" will remember Jackson as the former director of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, at a time when the operation was a fraction of the size it is today.) Both the theater and Jackson's talent have expanded over the years, as one can easily see in this production of A Hotel on Marvin Gardens.
The title, of course, refers to the board game Monopoly, which is a centerpiece of this engaging show. Although the play has a contemporary setting, it's almost nostalgic to see old friends gather for their annual game of Monopoly. How refreshing this seems, as opposed to the solitary computer games that seem to occupy many young people's attention today. In this case, the title has a special significance, since having a "hotel on Marvin Gardens" seems to represent an ultimate victory. The landlord of this prized piece of property is always K.C., a spoiled, middle-aged rich girl who is also the editor of the self-indugent ME magazine. The party is at her house, which rests on her island in a string of private islands on Long Island Sound. She is so unappealingly selfish, greedy and rich that one wonders why she has any friends at all. Not to worry, though: there's always the magazine's publisher, Bo; the editor, Henry; and his date, the magazine's new food critic. The stage is set for a contemporary drawing-room comedy, and Jackson does not disappoint. After some stilted exposition in the opening scene, the play manages to relax and enjoy the ride. Laughter percolates through the performance, as both visual and verbal gags hit the mark.
During the game, one of the characters points out that Monopoly always brings out the worst in people, and that's certainly true in this case. K.C., the thin, poised party hostess, becomes more brittle, shrill and competitive as the day wears on. She makes it clear that Erna, the bohemian food critic, is no match for her game-playing skill. Myrna, however, has her eyes on another prize - that of Bo, who's also K.C.'s longtime lover as well as the magazine's publisher. Myrna is also making K.C. sweat as the game wears on. Henry, usually a masterful game player, is currently distracted by the inner awakening he's experienced on a therapist's couch. He sees the situation as if for the very first time. His cynicism is unleashed on an unexpected newcomer, a bedraggled young woman fleeing from an unpleasant encounter with a man on a nearby island.
Rose, the young woman, is quickly transported to a bedroom, where she changes from her wet clothes into a robe and requests a drink. Henry is especially aware of how fetching this woman looks in a fluffy robe, and he seems disappointed when the hostess announces that her clothes are finally dry. Bo is equally aware of the charming Myrna, who embraces life in a way that K.C. never could. For all its amiable conversation, the play ends on a disappointing note, as K.C. seems oblivious to the forces that made her friends abandon the Monopoly game before its conclusion.
As a playwright, Nagle Jackson has a particularly witty way with dialogue. Although one can project beforehand how the plot will turn out, it does have a few unexpected twists to keep things interesting. As a director, Jackson has a stellar local cast to work with -- all thoroughbreds who have turned in many fine performances in the past. Of them all, Carrie Hitchcock has the most difficult role as the headstrong K.C. She never changes a hair throughout the entire performance. Daniel Mooney is perfectly cast as Bo, who manages to project a tweedy, low-key charm. Norman Moses handles his character, Henry, with perfect comic timing. He never fails to let a laugh line slip away, and even his poignant moments reek of satire.
The versatile Angela Iannone completely inhabits her quirky character as the food critic. She puts as much effort into the physical comedy (a series of hilarious bits of stage business) as she does into the dialogue. Betsy Skowbo, a relative newcomer, holds up her end nicely as Rose, a wide-eyed schoolteacher who has never been this close to luxury, and what she repeated calls "class." Of them all, it is Rose and Henry who examine their lives and find them wanting. One hopes they can make life better as a pair than as lost souls.
The play unfolds in set designer Joe Brhel's elegant getaway, which is an engaging eyeful. Costume designer Ellen Kozak has particular fun with Erna's colorful costume.
Chamber Theater deserves credit for staging a new play as its season opener. Milwaukee theatergoers are becoming more adventurous all the time but still tend to wait for the reviews to come out before committing to a new work. In the case of Marvin Gardens, they can be assured of a fine performance. The only thing missing is a New York accent.
