Jack Klugman, Dan Lauria and Liz Larsen star in this ‘slice-of-life’ play at George Street Playhouse.
By: Stuart Duncan
The Value of Names, which has just opened at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, is commonly called a "slice-of-life" play. In this case, sadly, the slices are so thin and transparent that the evening is neither filling nor satisfying.
The show, written by Jeffrey Sweet and directed by James Glossman, has an all-star cast that features Jack Klugman, Dan Lauria and Liz Larsen. The situation is imaginary, but is based on fact and has a familiar ring to it: Norma Silverman, a New York-based actress, is visiting her father, Benny, at his impressive home in Malibu, which overlooks the Pacific. In fact, we spend the 88 minutes of the play (no intermission) on the patio of the house. It quickly becomes evident that Norma is on the West Coast to do a play, and that 40 years ago, her dad was investigated by the House Un-American Activities Commission.
Father and daughter are clearly cut from the same cloth, and both are stubborn, opinionated and sharp-tongued. And when the director of Norma’s play takes ill and is replaced by Leo Gershen, Papa has fits. Gershen, you see, was the man who gave his name to the HUAC and, in Benny’s mind at least, "I’ll never know how good I could have been." He still bares the scars of that wound.
Now all the parameters of the evening are in place. Norma (Liz Larsen) wants desperately to do the show; Gershen (Dan Lauria) wants her to do it, and even visits Benny to attempt to make up for the four decades of hatred. And Benny (Jack Klugman) remains unwilling to make any rapprochement.
Playwright Sweet tries to leaven his script with laughter, and the jokes are often very funny, but sometimes inspired by either age or the bathroom and frequently off topic. And the play runs in a straight line, never reaching a crescendo. We learn something about the characters; they arrive, plant their feet firmly in the soil and then hardly change their minds.
The acting is first-rate, and it’s wonderful to see Mr. Klugman on stage again, although the ravages of his bouts with illness are visible. Mr. Lauria is a commanding presence on stage, and when he tries to appeal to Benny with "that was 40 years ago; we are facing death now," your heart may break.
But the evening belongs to Ms. Larsen as she tries unsuccessfully to mediate the discussion. It is she who is not burdened by memories; she who owes little to the past and can weigh the options with honesty. She does it with charm and intelligence, but, of course, must fail. She makes one final try as the curtain nears. Her father, stubborn as always, mumbles "not good enough." Blackout curtain. Good last line. Covers the evening.
The Value of Names continues at George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Ave.,
New Brunswick, through Dec. 17. Performances: Tues.-Fri. 8 p.m.; Sat. 2, 8 p.m.;
Sun. 2, 7 p.m. (No performance Thanksgiving Day.) Tickets cost $28-$64. For information,
call (732) 246-7717. On the Web: www.georgestplayhouse.org

