GIRLFRIENDS: (L-R) Sas Goldberg, Cristin Milioti, and Jeanine Serralles in �Stunning.� (Erin Baiano)
In David Adjmi’s provocative new play, “Stunning,” apparently innocuous suburban life conceals a myriad of hidden thoughts and desires, some of which can lead to dire consequences.
Set in the insular Syrian-Jewish community of Midwood, Brooklyn, New York, teenager Lily (Cristin Milioti), married to the much older and domineering Ike (Danny Mastrogiorgio), is very much under her husband’s thumb. Inasmuch as Lily is only just about to turn 17, it’s understandable that she hasn’t had time to know her own mind or to be her own person.
Lily’s older sister Shelly (Jeanine Serralles), whose standards are very much in keeping with the community’s mores, supports Ike. She is married to Ike’s business partner Jojo (Steven Rattazzi), and Shelly and Jojo have children, the thing to do. Ike also very much wants to start a family—now. In fact, in one scene, Ike makes his wants known quite forcefully. But Lily isn’t sure that motherhood is what she wants, at least not at this time.
OLDER HUSBAND: (L-R) Lily (Cristin Milioti) must decide whether to follow the way of her domineering husband (Danny Mastrogiorgio) or her own way, in David Adjmi�s new play �Stunning.� (Erin Baiano)
Lily and Blanche become close, and Blanche urges Lily to make her own way in life and stop being a victim. People make choices, Blanche insists. One must be careful in one’s choices, but one can control one’s own destiny, is her overall thrust.
At Blanche’s suggestion, Lily secretly goes on “the pill,” in an effort to thwart Ike’s plan to become a father. The two women become so close that Lily, overwhelmed by Blanche’s fierce ideas and determination, wants to leave Ike and run away with Blanche, as the latter had given Lily to believe that was the plan.
But things begin to fall apart at the seams. Ike is not what he has appeared to be. Not only does he make a pass at Blanche (which she rebuffs), but he is not the sterling businessman he has proclaimed himself to be. Blanche’s façade is even shakier than Ike’s. She can find only one way out of her dilemma.
But perhaps it is Lily who suffers the most. She is left without support and does what so many do—takes the line of least resistance.
Director Anne Kauffman has orchestrated this unique play against a compelling stark and hard-edged physical entity. David Korins’s sparse set is all white, the whiteness conveying both a clean slate and sterility. Only the pet goldfish in its bowl seems to inject any life into this environment.
Set changes occur rapidly and efficiently, with modifications hoisted and lowered silently from above. White-garbed “set-changers” work with precision to place and replace sofas, tables, etc.
The terrific effect is also somehow ominous. Miranda Hoffman’s chic but spare costumes feed into the picture.
Performances are excellent, with the trio of Cristin Milioti, for her numerous emotional changes, Danny Mastrogiorgio, for his alternate violence and pseudo-warmth, and Charlayne Woodard, for her intense and sensitive nuances, arguably taking top honors, in a fine cast that also includes Sas Goldberg as the women’s friend, Claudine.
“Stunning” is the second production of the inaugural season of LCT3 (Lincoln Center Theater 3), featuring emerging playwrights, directors, and designers. It is playing at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street project. In the near future, a new theater to house future LCT3 productions is to be built in the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts area.
Stunning
The Duke on 42nd Street
229 West 42nd Street, second floor
Tickets: 646-223-3010 or Dukeon42.org
Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Closes: July 11
Diana Barth writes and publishes “New Millennium,” a performing arts newsletter. For information: diabarth@juno.com. She also reviews for Totaltheater.com.