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From Amy Marie Boulanger's article on the examiner.com web site, April 19, 2009.

Dragon Productions' The Cocktail Hour: Dysfunction and Drinks

Dad, Bradley, prepares drinks and laments on life while son, John, responds from off-stage, in Dragon Productions' The Cocktail Hour. A.R. Gurney's play within a play focuses on the playwright son who has returned to his parents' home, not out of any deep-rooted desire to spend quality family time gathered around the piano (as Dad bemoans) but to ask permission to produce his new play. Which just happens to be based on their lives.

Though clearly making use of the meta-quality of the play within a play theme, the slightly awkward opening smoothes itself out as the play progesses. John's initial presence off-stage--listening, reacting, speaking--though not ignored, per se, is not wholly acknowledged either, as Dad continually speaks to him while directing all lines on-stage, to the empty and "imagined" presence. No doubt a suggestion of John's more invisible role within the family, as well as his role as author, the technique seemed to work better when John's off-stage presence was more fully acknowledged.

Thankfully, John enters the scenes and merges into the family dialogue, occasionally stepping back to observe the arguments dished out between sips of Scotch and white wine.

Dad, in his opinion, is at death's door. Mom, reserved, shallowly preoccupied with the details of dinner, continually requests for a "splash more" to her drink, building to and maintaining a pleasant buzz, well played by Ann Kuchins. Daughter, Nina, whines about being the "supporting character" of the family and announces her long-suppressed desire to work with seeing-eye dogs.

Throughout, John dips in and out of the scenes as playwright/character, coming to terms with his past and present. Why the necessity for playwriting? Why can't he just be content with his nice, well-salaried day job? Why the need to write about his family?

Charles Numrich and Ann Kuchins bring a wonderful WASP-y charm as the heads of this dysfunctional family, directed by Rachel Ann Manheimer. The full house did make for a warm evening in the small theater space, however, so it's best to dress light.

Though Gurney's play within play theme can seem a tad hitting-over-the-head, The Cocktail Hour provides plenty of laughs, a charming cast and set, and an examination into our own haunted pasts: looks like we all have issues, no matter where you come from.

Dragon Theatre
535 Alma Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301

www.dragonproductions.net/tickets.htm

Directed By:
Rachel Manheimer

Featuring:
C. Conrad Cady
Janine Evans
Ann Kuchins
Charles Numrich