Photo Source: Henry DiRocco
Unfortunately, each of us can't always tell what the other person is trying to say to us. George is smiling and heartbroken, unable to find the words his wife, Mary, needs to hear—assuming any words will assuage her misery. In the tender hands of Leo Marks, George is a tightly strung but lovable intellect who worships Mary. Face it, Mary, he's not the smooth talker you apparently want. As Betsy Brandt plays her, Mary is equally sympathetic; even her weeping is never annoying. Brandt makes her a sturdy, independent woman, glowing in her newfound career. Laura Heisler makes a sweetly devoted Emma, wanting but unable to reveal her love for George. And as sharply etched "others," Linda Gehringer and Tony Amendola are superb, particularly as an "old" couple among the last remaining speakers of Elloway, shuffling about in hilarious "traditional" garb (Rachel Myers). But the pair bickers in English—albeit with carefully matching Ellowayish accents—furiously and at length, about tiny matters that annoy each. At least they communicate with each other.
With a few lines left in Act 1 at the matinee reviewed, the theater swayed, rolled, slid. Oh, yes, we could feel the Mexicali earthquake. Marks and Heisler were soldiering on. Eventually the ASM walked on stage and took Marks by the arm, trying to pull him offstage. Holding his ground, Marks gestured to the audience, quickly and quietly asking the stage manager, "What about them?" If Cho's play left a stone unturned in revealing how beautifully language can convey and engender love, Marks' innate kindness in that one question took care of it.
Presented by and at South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. April 2–25. Tue.–Wed., 7:30 p.m.; Thu.–Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2:30 and 8 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. (714) 708-5555. www.scr.org.