The Paris Letter
December 11, 2004
Kirk Douglas Theatre, Culver City
Play by John Robin Baitz
After "A Perfect Wedding," I wasn't entirely too sure what to expect over at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. But I definetly enjoyed "The Paris Letter" much more. It is a much more conventional play than "Perfect Wedding," and the play is also much realistic in style than "Wedding".
That said, "Paris Letter" is also a very well constructed and written play - even if it could use a few cuts here and there. It is about a powerful Wall Street financial advisor, Sandy Sonenberg, who is married, but also intensely conflicted about his homosexuality. His internal struggle is manifested in a lifetime of dilly-dallying back and forth between a straight life (that includes marriage) and a secretive gay one on the side.
The play does a great job at conveying the nature of the struggle between Sonenberg's gay impulses and the pressures of the straight world. When his impulses surface, the explode - sometimes passionately (as he suddenly lives his desire passionately with a partner), or sometimes violently. The tension is made very clear and dramatic in the play through several effective scenes. Gay issues are discussed in a far more textured and meaninful way here than they were in this season's other gay-themed play, "Take Me Out."
A strong cast brings the play to the stage, led by Ron Rifkin (of "Alias" fame) and Lawrence Pressman. Josh Radnor, Patricia Wettig ("Thirtysomething") and Neil Patrick Harris ("Doogie Howser, MD") round out the cast. Particularly strong performances from from Rifkin and Radnor. The way the play is set up has most of the actors playing two roles; all but Harris manage the shift with remarkable skill.
All in all, a fascinating play well worth the nearly 3 hours spent watching it. The play travels to off-Broadway's Roundabout Theatre in a different production this spring.
"The Paris Letter" is playing at the Kirk Douglas Theatre through December 26.
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