Ms. Dukakis in Williams' Milk Train...

[skynyc]

This downstairs off-Broadway effort from the Roundabout is a good use of their clout to get good names in limited runs of obscure shows. This later effort by Williams deals with death and gigolos, rich old broads and repressed ingenues. Themes that recur often in the playwright's work. The production is handsome, (as is the leading man, Darren Pettie, who has a string of TV credits.) The ever-reliable Edward Hibbert turns in a great performance as the Witch of Capri...(a role that Noel Coward played in the film.) And Olympia Dukakis is all over the place in this most difficult of roles: the dying Flora Goforth who is so desperately trying to live. I think the direction was part of the problem, but it's still fun to watch a real diva play a real diva. And perhaps the problem is in the material, which is overwrought with blatant imagery. Still, some of the speeches are lovely and how often are we going to get a chance to see one of these lesser-known plays by American masters?

 

It closes this week, and there are plenty of discounts, but don't go on Wednesday nights, Ms. Dukakis only does the matinees on Wednesdays.