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'Visiting Mr. Green' By Robert H. Miller Special to the Tidings Who's that knocking at my door? That's what Mr. Green, an 86-year-old Jew wonders, lately a widower, as he shuffles around his fourth floor walk-up apartment in New York, hunched and dressed in an old dressing-gown, with black-stockinged feet. The visitor turns out to be Ross Gardiner, a personable young executive working for American Express who, incidentally, is gay. He comes a-knocking eight times over a two-month period in "Visiting Mr. Green," Jeff Baron's teasing and touching 1996 play, now being presented by Ashland Community Theatre at the Middle School Commons Theatre. It seems that Mr. Green (Doug Mitchell) had wandered into traffic on New York's west side and was almost hit by a car driven by Ross (Daniel Ferris). Charged with reckless driving, Ross is sentenced to community service - to help Mr. Green once a week for six months, with groceries, cleaning, and suchlike; hardly the basis for an amicable association, with no release from an adamant judge. Still, the relationship perks up when Mr. Green learns that his helpmate is Jewish, too. Tolerance grows into friendship; they begin to draw each other out, to peel back the past, to face their own demons, if you will. And what begins as delightful comedy turns into compelling drama. The play is beautifully measured by director Livia Genise, recognizing that its humor springs from the characters' personalities. As the playwright observes, "It's funny because people are funny." There's no need here for one-liners, shouting matches, or door slamming. And if, in certain moments, the playwright "dances close to the edge of sentimentality," Genise doesn't let it topple over. She keeps it persuasively low-keyed, yet all the more warm and moving for that. She is, of course, the artistic and managing director of Actors' Theatre, and Doug Mitchell collaborated with her there on "The Music Lesson" earlier this year. The set design of the living-room and kitchen by Susan Carhart is commendably in character, even to the shambles, noisy sink and Jewish symbols. Mr. Green, at one point, talks lovingly of his wife Yetta, to whom he had been married 59 years, with never an argument. He met her while waiting to use the toilet. At that time, on the lower east side, there was one toilet for his parents' family of six and that of the seven Garelichs who lived next door. "The only thing on my mind," he says, "is I gotta go, I gotta go," and Yetta lets him in ahead of her. They got married six months later. (Baron says his play was inspired by and is dedicated to another Yetta - Yetta Langman, his grandmother). There's a parallel later when, after an awkward conversation, Mr. Green decides to make tea for two, a not too subtle way of changing the subject. When it comes to the tea-bags, however, he pockets one and they brew with the other, he allowing Ross to go first, dipping it in and out of the cup several times. Another time, Mr. Green tries to paint a picture of the right girl for Ross, saying, "I think the good Lord sent you to me. And I hope He sends someone to you. Someone just like Yetta. You're a nice boy. A girl would be lucky to get a fellow like you." Given his sexual persuasion, Ross' response is: "There is no right girl. Not if you're gay." Near the end of the play, the guys hug one another, providing an undeniable emotional punch. It made me wonder - did Ross and his father ever do that? In the final scene, Ross has helped Mr. Green get suited up, tied his tie for him, and together they share a nervous excitement. Suddenly there's a knocking at the door. Who's there, this time? The play calls for two actors only. Doug Mitchell is Mr. Green in a brilliant portrayal, never overplaying the many moods of the man or his Jewishness or lurking humor. This is the role played originally by Eli Wallach. The protagonist, Daniel Ferris as Ross is equally impressive. Immensely likable, his dry wit and probing shrewdness contribute greatly to the dialogue. I hope we see more of him. He has other talent, too, being an accomplished classical guitarist. What's to like about the play? A whole lot! Specially from the comfort of new seats, with a new rear-stage black curtain and a new sound system. Performances are on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. (May 9,10, 16,17, 23, 24), with matinees on Sunday at 2 p.m. (May 11, 18, 25). For subscriber information, call 482-7532. LINKS: REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. DAILY TIDINGS: Main | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -