Review
Colder Than Here
Lucille Lortel Theater
September 29. 2005
VanLoan
vanloan@nyconstage.org
Laura Wade's new play Colder Than Here premiered last February at the Soho Theater in London. Its quick transfer to NYC is no doubt due to the subject matter: death with dignity. Unfortunately, the type of dignity involved here is micromanagement. Myra is dying of bone cancer and decides to plan her own funeral. The real motivation for doing this is one last attempt at bringing her estranged family together. She sends her daughters to find a place in the country for burial. She constantly muses philosophically with her husband to break through his denial. She wants a cardboard coffin (it's bio-degradable) painted blue with clouds on it. It's all very dignified and some what banal. This is not necessarily the operative emotion needed; even taking into account the classic British stoicism.
Judith Light does what she can to make Myra believable; unfortunately she is not on stage enough for us to get involved. Brian Murray seems a bit distracted and adrift yet makes this work for the character. Sarah Paulson and Lily Rabe as the daughters both play the one note given them competently (Paulson is stable and accountable; Rabe needy and rebellious). For a subject this emotionally charged, the viewer often finds oneself out in the cold. |
