A few thoughts on KINDNESS by Adam Rapp

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 10:56pm

Terrible play; excellent performances.

A mother and son go to New York to see the hit musical of the day: a bohemian love story called "Survivin'." Mother, dying of cancer with, oh, a month to live, invites the friendly taxi driver to use her son's ticket, because he's a cranky seventeen year old who has no interest in musicals, even if it is the hit of the generation. So while he's alone, a model-esque woman walks into the hotel room, and they chat for a while.

There's a lot of chatting going on, not a lot of action. KINDNESS is a conversation piece about survivin', both the idea of it and the musical, which, featuring a black electronics genius, a Latino drag queen, and an act 2 opener that has everyone in a line at the front of the stage singing, bares a striking resemblance to the show which made Rapp's brother famous.

You see, it's son's idea to kill mother, put her out of her agonizing misery. How to do it? By hammering her skull. In fact, you don't know whether or not he will do it, though you can assume what'll happen, and in the end, that largely comes true.

In order to fully buy into the play, you must buy into the ideas Rapp proposes to further the plot: the girl who wanders in, the mother who becomes friendly with the taxi driver, the son who's willing to take his mother's life with a hammer.

It's not a great play, it just lays there like a lump. The performances liven it up a great deal. Christopher Denham, Rapp-veteran, plays teenage angst very well; Katherine Waterston is a minx-like chameleon, and Ray Thomas does what he can with his go-nowhere part.

The real performance to watch is the unquestionably brilliant one by Annette O'Toole. To watch her, you just want to cry for this poor dying woman who wants one final nice time with her son, who just won't give it to her. Simply shattering.

Rapp's potshots at theater are the funniest bits of dialogue, from commentary on audiences and standing ovations, to everything mocking RENT. I just couldn't figure out what he wanted the whole thing to amount to.

One major highlight: the scenic design by Lauren Helpern. A dead-on replication of a tremendously bland motel room.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 9:12am

Bump

[ashley0139]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 10:18am

Hmmm I was thinking about seeing this as one of my four "flexpass" shows, but I think I'm going to pass. Thanks for the review. It didn't really sound like my kind of show anyway. I'm especially looking forward to their next show.

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 1:28pm

woah, spoilers much?

[sally1112]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 1:35pm

Kinda feel like I have seen it now...

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 3:52pm

No spoilers there - everything I said was addressed in the major reviews: the Times, the Daily News, etc.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 3:54pm

I'm seeing this tonight. How do you feel about Rapp's work in general? Do you usually like him and feel this wasn't up to par, or are you in the "he's overrated" camp?

Updated On: 10/19/08 at 03:54 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 4:04pm

I'm very fond of Rapp's work; I will say RED LIGHT WINTER is my favorite (I think it's everyone's favorite.)

In general, there were a significant amount of moments that reminded me of "Red Light;" in fact, there were times I was thinking of it as "Red Light Redux," both plot-wise and in terms of symbolism.

You'll see what I mean. I'm very interested in hearing what you thought.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 6:25pm

I think I might have to see this as well. I've been getting into Rapp lately, and I've bought "Red Light Winter" I just haven't read it yet.