Marvin’s Room
Vintage Theatre: 2/28 – 4/5
The cast of MARVIN'S ROOM (photo credit: RDG Photograpy)
Marvin’s Room, Scott McPherson’s touching play about a family brought together under traumatic circumstances, is currently on view at Vintage Theatre.
Marvin’s been dying for twenty years. Bessie’s been taking care of him for that long. Bessie’s estranged sister, Lee, who lives in another town, can’t seem to deal with her teenage boys. When Bessie gets a dire diagnosis that requires her to call Lee, memories of the past collide with current events and old wounds cause family dynamics to erupt.
Bernie Cardell’s direction brings out just the right blend of humor and heartache to make this one of the most emotionally rewarding shows onstage this month. In his Director’s notes, Cardell asks ‘who helps the caregiver when the caregiver gets sick?’
Diane Wziontka gives a poignantly nuanced portrayal of Bessie.
As the play opens, Dr. Wally, played with delightful good humor and disturbing amnesia by local favorite Andy Anderson, takes a second look at Bessie’s blood work.
Adding comic relief where we need it most, Linda Suttle is hilarious as Bessie’s Aunt Ruth.
Jacqueline Garcia gives us a lively portrait of Bessie’s feisty sister, Lee. We first get a glimpse of Lee as she visits her son Hank, portrayed by Braidy Kirkegaard.
Kirkegaard shows a great deal of promise, and one hopes to see him again soon upon the Denver stage.
In the intimacy of Vintage Theatre’s Bond-Trimble auditorium, we as audience get to know these characters in an up close and personal manner. The set by M. Curtis Grittner exudes a no-frills realism. Will Melendez’s lighting design is effective and unobtrusive. Luke Rahmsdorff -Terry’s sound design does a good job of bridging the scenes, without calling attention to itself.
Even the smaller roles are cast well. They include: Gabriel Waits, OD Duhu, Allistair Basse and Bruce Smith.
Worth a peek.
Vintage Theatre presents
“Marvin’s Room”
A human, hopeful, and hilarious play about being there for each other.
Feb. 28 – Apr. 5*
Fri/Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010
