January 14, 2009, 9:10 a.m.
CHUCK GRAHAM
Tucson Citizen
Drama depicts the reality of marriage after the honeymoon
One thing about the institution of marriage, it will surely make you thoughtful. Donald Margulies explores some of the deeper thoughts in his play "Dinner With Friends."
Rick Shipman (from left), Carrie Hill, Art Almquist and Rhonda Hall star in "Dinner with Friends."
Photo by Scott Griessel/Creatista, courtesy of Beowulf Alley Theatre Co.
But doesn't it seem remarkable that, after several hundred thousand years of human evolution, the solution to preserving permanent relationships hasn't been figured out? How difficult can it be? A couple of people meet, enjoy each other, have fun and say, "This is so great, let's do it forever."
Then when difficulties ensue, the people in trouble can check on what thousands of other people did with exactly the same problem.
Why don't the solutions that work out pretty well get passed along to the next generation? This is where Margulies comes in. He suggests there may be times when keeping the marriage together really isn't the most important part.
On the other hand, maybe he's wrong. Should two people even think about getting married if they aren't committed to sticking it out?
On the third hand, suppose these two determined people keep compromising their individual dreams of happiness so they can stay married. It is 50 years later and what have they gained?
You can sit in coffee shops and see lots of senior citizen couples sharing a table but staring off in different directions, oblivious to each other. Wouldn't both of them rather be somewhere else?
Margulies insists on asking "When is enough, enough?"
Carrie Hill and Art Almquist play Karen and Gabe, the bouncy couple who stay together because she talks all the time and he listens. Gabe maintains his dignity by occasionally making fun of Karen, who doesn't seem to notice because she's too busy thinking of what to say next.
But everyone considers Karen and Gabe the perfect couple, especially their friends Beth (Rhonda Hallquist) and Tom (Rick Shipman). After all, it was Karen and Gabe who first introduced Beth and Tom one summer long ago on Martha's Vineyard.
So when Beth and Tom split up early in Act One, Karen and Gabe are shocked. Karen immediately takes Beth's side, while Gabe suggests a more reasoned approach.
Then the story skips around in time, going back almost 13 years to the rosy beginning of this troubled marriage - then leaping ahead to five months after the couple's initial split. All that time-shuffling strengthens our appreciation of the issues. We can be reflective, while the characters struggle onstage to decide which is more important - stability or the opportunity for change.
All four actors feel modern and real, giving their dialogue delicate shading and subtle nuance. They live upscale, civilized lives and use big words in their arguments.
Their conversations, whether humorous or conflicted, are well-balanced and fully expressed. Each cast member gets several sympathetic moments as the power in their relationships keeps shifting.
The marriage of Beth and Tom provides all the trauma in the middle portions. Karen and Gabe are the emotional bookends who set up the conflict, then get to dramatize its final resolution.
The only odd note was that on opening night the other actors kept saying Karen's name was Carrie. That should be cleared up by this weekend.
