The New Repertory Theatre (Newton, Mass.) offered the world premiere of Joyce Van Dyke's A Girl's War (closed Oct. Paul Daigneault directed the show runs through Nov. Carroll as his bigoted, plain-talking sister, and Miguel Cervantes as the bus driver who is the object of Alfie's unspoken affections. The cast, drawn from both theatre companies, was beyond reproach, particularly Sean McGuirk as Alfie, Nancy E. The intimate production was beautifully judged in every respect. Set in 1964, the show centers on Alfie Byrne, a shy Dublin bus driver who confronts both the Catholic Church and his own closeted homosexuality when he tries to stage a production of Oscar Wilde's Salome at his local church. It's only when he shows up in the last half-hour of the play that it becomes more than a verbal display of Butley's terminal irritability.Ī Man of No Importance, by the same folks (Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty, and Lynn Ahrens) who gave us Ragtime, was an ideal choice for the first collaboration between two of Boston's best small theatres-the Súgán Theatre Company, with its focus on Irish plays, and the SpeakEasy Stage Company, which specializes in small-scale, high-quality musicals. The exception is Jake Weber as Butley's rival for Joey's affections. Particularly pallid is Benedick Bates (son of Alan, the ur-Butley) as Butley's soon-to-be-ex-lover Joey. The problem is that Lane-as-Butley is virtually a one-man show without strong actors for him to play off, and with one exception, the Huntington cast doesn't provide them. Lane's timing and delivery are impeccable, his usual shtick actually serves this character well, and he wields a serviceable standard British accent (although his attempts at Scots and Northern England are dire). Butley is the right role, and Lane is extraordinarily good as the gleefully spiteful, selfish, manipulative English professor who's having a really bad day-his wife and his office mate/male lover are both leaving him. Some of the local media seemed unaware (or assumed that Boston theatregoers were unaware) that Lane is not merely a song-and-dance man but, when offered the right role, a first-rate dramatic actor. 30), directed by Artistic Director Nicholas Martin and starring two-time Tony winner Nathan Lane. The hot ticket in Boston theatre this month is the Huntington Theatre Company's production of Simon Gray's Butley (through Nov.
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