Tom Williams

Clifford Odets’ 1935 revolutionary work first produced by the Group Theatre using “agit-prop” theatre techniques. The play was theatre as propaganda at its emotional zenith. This work utilizes actor plants in the audience to arouse responses and to break the ‘fourth walk.’ While a tad dated, Waiting For Lefty is still a classic warning to big corporations not to continue to oppress the American working class.

I wanted to know more about Tom and Marie but all I got was scene after scene that contained screaming, hollering, and shouting that made me wonder why playwright Farrell thought that the bickering among these folks had any relevance to 911. Why would such a play be part of any commemoration of that horrible incident?

After we meet three families, one American, one Mexican, and one Canadian, we begin to realize that each family has a connection to the tragic femicide occurring in contemporary Juarez, Mexico. Much of the entire first act involves the back story of the three families – each with a young girl. With all the clutter with the fantasy scenes and the weird movement, the emphasis of the real story has to wait for all the stage antics to be played out.

I also wasn’t too impressed by Quinn’s reductionist humor made famous by Jerry Seinfeld. Quinn reduces world history in 80 minutes of ignorant, simplistic and anachronism-filled dialogue that tries to be an equal offender of most religions, nationalities and countries. Quinn tries to comically channel the demise of great world civilizations through shallow cliches and rudely crude observations. His rawness lacks the bite and depth of a George Carlin and the bravado of Lenny Bruce.

We meet Anya Botvinnik (the fabulous Janet Ulrich Brooks) a witty but jaded cynical Russian veteran arms negotiator whose many years in Geneva leaves her frustrated by the process. When the Americans send a new diplomat – John Honeymen (David Parks) the battle of wits begins. They both decide that walking in the woods outside Geneva could allow more honesty and glibness than the stuffy table in the confined conference rooms.