NEW YORK—James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson are the stars and also the entire cast of the glittering Broadway revival of D.L. Coburn’s 1976 comedic play “The Gin Game.” The work shows there are still some surprises to be found in life, even if you’re getting close to the end of the road.
It’s visiting day at the Bentley home for the aged and neither long-time resident Weller Martin (Jones) nor the newly arrived Fonsia Dorsey (Tyson) has anyone coming by to see them. Both are long since divorced with children grown and gone.
With not much else to do, Fonsia accepts Weller’s offer to play a couple of hands of gin rummy. It’s a card game she’s never played and one at which Weller claims he is an old hand.
Not only does Fonsia take to the game like a fish to water, but she also starts winning hand after hand after hand. Her good luck creates growing annoyance in Weller—which eventually crescendos into both frightening and humorous moments.
Weller drives Fonsia away with his flights of anger but then coaxes and pleads with her to come back to the table. Weller’s purpose is not only to engage Fonsia for another rematch, but also to retain her company: She’s probably the only person who would put up with his garrulous manner. In fact, both are rather lonely for companionship, though neither mentions it.
In between the laying down and dealing of the cards, the audience is offered a glimpse into who these people are. Fonsia, for example, has had a bit of bad luck when it comes to men, while Weller is revealed to be not as smart as he thinks he is.
More than once, Weller reminds one of a schoolyard bully who screams and rages about the most inconsequential matters when things don’t go his way. Although Weller is capable of a tender gesture now and again, such moments are usually on his own terms. In fact, the relationship between Weller and Fonsia at points resembles an abuser and enabler.
