Prelude To A Kiss at Huntington Theatre
Magical Realism As Contemporary Couple
By: Mark Favermann - May 25, 2010
Prelude To A Kiss
By Craig Lucas
Directed by Peter DuBois
B.U. Theatre — Mainstage
Huntington Theatre Company
5/14/2010 — 6/13/201
Cast
Brian Sgambati as Peter
Cassie Beck as Rita
MacIntyre Dixon as Old ManNancy E. Caroll as Mrs. Boyle
Michael Hammond as Dr. Boyle
Ken Cheeseman as Uncle Fred
Production Artists
Scott Bradley, Scenic Designer
Elizabeth Hope Clancy,Costume Designer
Japhy Weiderman, Lighting Designer
David Remedios, Sound Designer
Running time: About 2 Hours
Hmmmm....That's what this play evokes. You think about it long after you see it. The story is provocative. But the premise and the production are a bit awkward. This Huntington Theatre Company production of A Prelude To A Kiss is a form of magical realism. But, shouldn't magical realism be magical or at least demonstrate some magic. Perhaps, the awkwardness is the playwright's slight of hand, his magic?
Magical realism is an aesthetic or creative narrative style in literature, theatre and visual arts in which magical or fantastic elements are blended into a realistic setting in order to access a deeper meaning and thus understanding of reality. In other words, there should be something transformative about the intersection of reality and magic, human and beyond.
The play premiered in 1988. It became a film (Meg Ryan and Alec Baldwin starred) and was revived on Broadway in 2007 with the playwright revising and tweaking the script. This fairy tale is a simple story. Boy, Peter, meets girl, Rita. They fall in love and almost immediately decide to marry. A few months later at their wedding, a stranger appears, an old man. He kisses the bride, and Rita's and the old man's souls trade places. What transpires is the realignment of the moon and stars in the context of the issues of contemporary couples.
Being human and what that means is the theme of Prelude. This is underscored by the notion of what is a human being as defined by gender, age and relationship. Living for the moment vs. living for the ages is also worked into the narrative. Life is too short and moments should be cherished. Also, the playwright tells us that we should always be true to ourselves to who we really are. Often times when we are married, "it is for better or worse."
As Peter, Brian Sgambati looks the part but often seems to be chewing the scenery a bit in his narration and his character's interactions. However, he does project a love for Cassie Beck's Rita. Her reaction to him is somewhat ambivalent. Thus, the change in her personality after "the kiss" is subtle not always clearly stated or theatrically demonstrated.
MacIntyre Dixon's Old Man is the character that adds warmth, humanity, humility and even chemistry to the production. He is dignified without being stiff, strong but somehow fragile, and down-to-earth while being spiritual. The other actors are all fine but less well-crafted.
The sets by Scott Bradley are seamless in transforming the action from environment to environment. However, the lighting by Japhy Weiderman is shadowy and inconsistent while the music by David Remedios is often just strangely loud and discordant. The problems with the production are the responsibility of director Peter Dubois. He just does not orchestrate the appropriate magic.
This Huntington Theatre Company production of Prelude To A Kiss clearly has a resonance. It is a parable about marriage, a soliloquy of life and a fairy tale about true love. This production is an early Summer trifle rather than a sweet confection. But, it has a sour-sweet aftertaste.