Equally Divided by Ronald Harwood, presented by One Thirty productions, is one of the funniest and most well-done productions on a Dallas stage this season. Set in the British coastal town of Bournemouth in the antique-filled living room of Edith Taylor (Gene Raye Price) and her late mother, the play relates a story of classic sibling rivalry.
It is a few days after the mother's funeral, and Edith and her sister, Renata Taylor (Mary Lang), are sorting out old rivalries of the "mother always liked you best" variety. Their attire broadcasts an immediate cue. Edith is dressed and groomed all prim and proper in black. Renata is still in her colorful bathrobe and sporting disheveled hair. When she finally gets dressed, she sports a bright red dress.
Edith cared for her demented mother for many years, while Renata was busy elsewhere leading her self-absorbed life. Edith is on the verge of bankruptcy while Renata is rolling in money thanks to an inheritance from her late third husband. Enter into the mix the family solicitor, Gus Klingman (Dwight Sandel), who suspects the antiques may be worth a fortune and proposes to have them appraised by a friend of his. Edith, not quite trusting Gus, summons the services of Fabian Hill (Stan Graner), the owner of an antique shop she passed by frequently when taking her mother for walks. Hill is, by his own admission, totally unscrupulous and hatches a plan to help Edith retain a measure of solvency.
The writing of Equally Divided is witty; as the one-liners fly fast and frequently. Meanwhile, Price wears many hats, and all of them fit perfectly. As Edith she maintains perfect composure and eschews any actions that are not completely honest and above board, providing a comic juxtaposition to Gus and Fabian who are both ethical polar opposites of Edith.
As the director of Equally Divided, Price's staging is superb. While I've always likened directing oneself in a play to do-it-yourself brain surgery, Price manages to pull off this feat without a misstep. And as co-founder of One Thirty productions she runs a tight ship as both producer and director.
Lang's portrayal of the wealthy, narcissistic, flamboyant Renata strikes all the right chords. Sandel is right on target as the stereotypical sleazy solicitor. Graner is very funny and perfectly cast as the smooth-talking antique dealer out to make a quick buck.
Dave Tenney’s set is perfect in evoking the ambience of a once-wealthy English matriarch. Marty van Kleeck's costumes blend perfectly with the set and the personalities of the characters.
