|
Twilight of the Golds
By Jonathan Tolins
Directed by Tim Gregory
At Apple Tree Theatre
1850 Green Bay Road
Highland Park, IL
Call 847-432-4335, tickets $38 - $48
Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30
Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 5 & 8:30 pm
Sundays at 2 & 6 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 20 minutes with intermission
Through November 11, 2007
Thought provoking drama outlines eugenics debate
What if your parents knew everything about you (good and bad) before you were born, would you still be here? That is the central dilemma in Jonathan Tolins’ 1993 drama—Twilight of the Golds now playing at Apple Tree Theatre in Highland Park. This powerful show dramatizes the moral quandary couples will soon be facing from the advances in genetic engineering. In a well acted, nicely paced show, we meet an upper middle class North Shore Jewish family, the Gold’s.
 |
Phyllis Gold (Brigid Duffy) and Walter Gold (Larry Wiley) are loving, hands-on parents with a tendency to be controlling with their children. David Gold (Eddie Collins) is the artistic gay son and Suzanne Gold-Stein (Elise Kauzlaric) is the selfish and weak sister married to a research doctor. The early scenes paint a picture of a normal 1990’s family featuring a flamboyant opera aficionado son who describes life events in terms of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. The metaphor works theatrically. When the family gathers for their weekly dinner, Suzanne announces that she is pregnant. Joy reigns in the family.
 |
However, Rob Stein (Steven Marzolf), ever the cautious scientist and father-to-be, wants his research company to run a prenatal genetics test “just to be safe.” Suzanne is a weak vacillating soul fearful of making wrong decisions in her life. When she has the test—the family goes into turmoil because the tests show that there is a 90% + chance that the baby boy will be gay. Suzanne loves her gay brother David but isn’t sure she has the strength to raise a son she knows will face life as a gay boy. Phyllis and Walter’s real feeling toward David come spilling out when David asks them this question: “What would you have done if you knew I was gay before I was born?”
 |
The play has balanced and convincing arguments for all sides of the issue that includes the eugenics debate, tolerance and the definition of love (does love require being unconditional?). The play dramatizes the contradictions and hypocrisy of self-defined liberals. David’s apt use of Wagner’s Ring Cycle to heighten his emotional plea to Suzanne to have the baby works nicely. The Gold’s journey that threatens to destroy the family is mirrored by that opera which describes the destruction of a decadent corrupt world by a nasty, bickering family.
See this show to understand each side’s stance when Suzanne’s decision rocks the family. Despite the 1990’s references, the issues presented here still are relevant today. Eddie Collins’ David and Steven Marzolf’s Rob fine performances anchor the show. Tolins’ writing covered all sides of the issue effectively. You’ll be debating the issues here on your ride home as I did. This is a thinking person’s drama.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2007
|
