OpeningNight.Online Theater Logo

Ever Young at the Metropolitan Virtual Playhouse

The cast from Ever Young. Zoom screen shot credit: Alex Roe.
The cast from Ever Young. Zoom screen shot credit: Alex Roe.
Search by review category
Rating
4.8/5

It is week 11 of the Metropolitan Virtual Playhouse, and they keep outdoing themselves. They are not only theater; it is a history lesson, art lesson and therapeutic session morphed to create an intimate virtual space experience.

The latest offering Ever Young is a one-act play casting four older women written by Alice Gerstenberg. Set in the famed Royal Poinciana Hotel in Palm Beach, this play covers a large territory considering the actors sit in wicker chairs and comment on happenings in the grand lobby. The chairs the actors sit in on zoom were virtual backdrops ingeniously designed by Pamela Lawton. The audience is virtually sitting at the table Mrs. Paige-Dexter commands. One becomes part of the intimate conversation that witnessing it on a stage from your seat could not accomplish.

The Royal Poinciana Hotel
The Royal Poinciana Hotel

We get to eavesdrop on a foursome from 100 years ago. We see what was in style in Palm Beach and how the privileged conducted themselves. Secrets unfold, and the audience gets an intimate glimpse into relationships along with a history lesson. Many questions get answered, but one puzzle remains. How Mrs. Paige can give up her fiancé to another woman. She was just given a lustrous strand of pearls which was the envy of the gathering.

From the radio audience, my mother said, “that woman with the pearls had the best, clearest voice.” Mom is blind and hard of hearing. She instructs her device Alexa to put on 99.5 and gets all dressed up for virtual theater. She wore a blue and white dress this week for the occasion. During this time of social distancing and isolation, it is an excellent community service to broadcast the series.

The Metropolitan Playhouse presents plays unique to the American theatre experience and heritage. This play is representative of a moment in our nation’s history. Alex Roe led a conversation with the actors exploring their feelings on performing this play putting it in the context of our current struggles to improve as a country. A lively insightful debate over the characters ensued. The takeaway is to get out and vote – this play was written a year after women were given the vote. Every vote, every person, and every breath matters.

Thanks once again to the Metropolitan Playhouse for their continuous innovation. By creating and performing, virtual playhouse actors are continuing to present their art and the public continues to get its fix of the theater weekly.

Ever Young – by Alice Gertsenberg, directed by Alex Roe.

With – Sidney Fortner (Mrs. Blanchard), Wendy Merritt (Mrs. Dorchester) Kim Yancey Moore (Mrs. Paige), and Rosina Fernhoff (Mrs. Paine-Dexter).

Background by Pamela Lawton. Dramaturgy by Jon Lonoff.

Metropolitan Playhouse 220 E 4th Street New York 10009 http://metropolitanplayhouse.org/virtualplayhouse Saturday, June 6, 2020, virtual lobby open starting at 7:55. Reading begins at 8:00 pm. The next live show is Saturday, June 13, 2020, at 8 pm. Available on Zoom link posted on the website for weekly live viewing, YouTube, and broadcast on Pacifica 99.5. No charge to join and watch live Zoom production or to watch on archives. Please consider a donation instead of a ticket to the Artist Relief Fund and to 99.5 in the Metropolitan Virtual Playhouse name. Information about the theater’s ARTISTS RELIEF FUND found at www.metropolitanplayhouse.org/covidaid. Running time 40 minutes. Talkback to follow, including audience questions via Zoom and YouTube chat.

More to explore...

Andre Royo in Audible Theater's production of "Drinking in America," written by Eric Bogosian and directed by Mark Armstrong. Off-Broadway / Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane, NYC). Photo (c) Jeremy Daniel

Drinking in America at the Minetta Lane Theater

Royo delivered a resounding performance, transforming into over 12 characters experiencing the stages of alcoholism and its effects on each character’s interaction with himself and others. At times, it’s hard to tell who Man is, as his toxic masculinity dominates and elevates with the abuse of alcohol.

MasterVoices presents O HOW GOOD at the Central Synagogue. Ted Sperling, conductor. Credit Photo: Joe Carrotta

MasterVoices Presents a Concert of Jewish Sacred Music at Central Synagogue

Tonight’s O How Good was a celebration of the life of MasterVoices board member Lois Conway and the years of philanthropy and insightful leadership characterizing her service. The venue chosen for this event was inspiring and magnificent and set in New York City’s Central Synagogue, a stunning example of Moorish Revival architecture and a testament to the beauty and richness of Jewish tradition and culture.

COMMENTS

Ever Young at the Metropolitan Virtual Playhouse

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x