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July 16, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 21, 2004 'Allergist's Wife' is a caustic good time By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings Laced with witty one-liners, outrageously satirical situations and strong acting all around, the Artattack Theater production of the Broadway comedy hit, "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife" is definitely worth a look. The play opened at the Ashland theater on Friday and runs through July 12. As the story opens, Marjorie Taub (Ellen Waters) is one unhappy upper class, middle-aged, Manhattan socialite. Sure, she has been married for more than 30 years to a successful and beloved doctor, Ira (Will Churchill) who is renowned for his treatment of the poor and homeless. Marjorie volunteers for practically every good cause, enjoys fine art and culture and has an affluent lifestyle, but feels like she has not contributed to the world and has a meaningless, empty life. She spends her days curled up on the couch in her bathrobe, traumatized by the recent death of her analyst, and an unfortunate meltdown at the Disney Store, where she took joy in dropping glass figurines of Disney characters onto the floor. It also doesn't help to have her bitter elderly mother, Frieda (Rita Grauer), living in the same apartment complex. Frieda never seems to have an encouraging word for her daughter, and constantly barrages her family with daily updates of her bowel movements and her need for suppositories. One day, Marjorie unexpectedly runs into an old childhood friend, Lee Green (Linda Otto), who turns the world of this fairly conservative woman upside down. Lee is a free spirit who has lived life to the fullest and enthralls Marjorie with wondrous tales of her travels to far away places, passionate love affairs, and a number of Zelig-like encounters with the famous and infamous such as Andy Warhol and Princess Diana. Lee's presence reawakens Marjorie, who, renewed with energy and purpose, is determined to do the things she's always wanted to do, like write a novel or visit Germany. This doesn't sit well with her very Jewish mother, who feels a good Jewish woman shouldn't visit a country known for Nazis. Since her husband and mother have never met Lee and she never seems to show up when she's supposed to, they start to suspect she is a figment of the imagination. Soon enough, they find out that Lee is quite real and careens the family into a series of outrageously twisted and very funny scenarios that brings this dysfunctional family closer together. "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife" sparkles with originality. It's also laugh-out-loud funny. It's very raunchy, and uncouth at times, with a level of lewdness that may make some people blush. But for those who like their humor laced with bluntness and outrageousness, but with a compassion and love for its characters, this is a play to savor. Ellen Waters does a wonderful job with the role of Marjorie. She is able to find the fear, uncertainty and warmth in her character. Waters rises to the occasion by humanizing a character that easily could have been a caricature, but not losing the humorous bite the play requires. Rita Grauer displays impeccable comic timing as Frieda. Entering the stage in a bright yellow jogging suit and using a walker, she is a hoot as a foul-mouthed senior with an acid tongue and unforgiving personality. Will Churchill does a nice job with the character of Ira, who may love his wife, but is not giving her the support and understanding she needs. While good throughout the play, Churchill sparkles when he is confronted with a proposition from Lee that starts to bring out hidden desires. Linda Otto perfectly conveys Lee's brashness and sensuality, bringing a wonderful air of mystery to someone described in the play as "sphinx-like." Lee is a role that gives Otto the opportunity to have a grand time and she seems to relish the chance to strut her stuff. The cast is rounded out by Dale Nakagawa as Mohammed, the apartment's doorman, and he does a commendable job as a man caught in the middle of some very odd situations. The play's set, an Upper West Side apartment, is basic, but functional, perfectly using the small, intimate theater space and bringing the audience right into the action. Director Justin C. Lockwood must be commended for his brisk direction, moving the play along and emphasizing the humor and humanity in the characters. It is not an easy task for a play to be funny, yet not be populated by characters who only seem to function as walking one-liners - and Lockwood and his cast succeed. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams