NEW YORK—A woman has been incarcerated for close to thirty years for her role in the killing of an African-American armored-car security guard. The present time is not long after 9/11.The character's name is Alison Moulton (Joanna Gleason) and, now in her fifties, she is about to petition the parole board once again for her release.
This is the beginning of Willy Holtzman's short but potent play, Something You Did.
Alison has visitors. There is her attorney Arthur (Jordan Charney), who was the partner of Alison's recently deceased father. Arthur hopes that that personal loss may soften Alison's views. In addition, Arthur has in the past succeeded in exerting a reasonable, calming effect upon her.
He now advises her to stress with the board how repentant she is, and to relinquish her former arrogance. However, at this point Alison continues to hold to her views as the pair argues over the possible outcome of the forthcoming parole board hearing.
Her former lover and associate at the time of the tragic incident, Gene (Victor Slezak), pays Alison a visit. Now a successful writer he has, rather pompously, switched sides and has embraced conservative political views. He chides Alison for her stubbornness in clinging to her ideals, ideals that may result in her remaining incarcerated.
Alison has reached out to Lenora (Adriane Lenox), the daughter of the slain guard, in the hopes that this woman will sympathize with Alison's plight and intercede with the parole board in her favor. But Lenora remains bitter and implacable, even thirty years after the fact.
One more character in the mix is a prison trusty, who watches over Alison more like a fox in the henhouse than a fellow hen, so to speak. This is Uneeq (who goes by the sole actor's name, Portia). A street-smart young black woman, she cynically puts down Alison whenever she gets the chance. The two women are poles apart in just about every possible way.
Joanna Gleason, known for her roles in musicals as much as for her dramatic work, does an excellent job here. Her portrayal is dark and emotionally heavy, as befits someone in this character's situation.
Jordan Charney, Victor Slezak and Adriane Lenox lend fine support, with the actress Portia supplying high energy and occasional humorous interjections in what would otherwise be a totally somber play.
It's to playwright Holtzman's credit that he has created the interesting foil of Uneeq. (In an interview Holtzman remarked that he had had a student by that name back in his teaching days in the South Bronx.)
Carolyn Cantor has directed this thoughtful production, which was produced by Primary Stages.
Something You Did
59e59 Theaters
59 East 59 Street
Tickets: (212) 279-4200 or www.ticketcentral.com
Closes: April 26, 2008
Diana Barth writes and publishes New Millennium, an arts newsletter. For information: diabarth@juno.com
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