The Birthday Chronicles Continue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Girls, Hurry And See Mia And Patti Before They Close On December 15th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  I can't say that "The Roommate," by Jen Silverman, is a world beater of a play, but with Mia Farrow and Patti Lupone sharing the vehicle, it becomes a performing arts event.  One which we attended on November 20, 2024.

                                   Which is exactly what "The Producers" was, back when Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick were in it.  When they left, the show tanked.

                                       The same would happen with "The Roommate."  Farrow and LuPone make the show!

                                         It is an interesting, exploratory character study of two very different women--Sharon (Farrow), living in Iowa, a lonely divorcee, who takes in a roommate named Robyn, a Bronx bomber, played by LuPone as bomber as one can get.  A butch lesbian, who has been married, she comes off as intimidating yet fascinating to the rather sheltered Sharon.  But as the drama unfolds, the audience sees sides of these characters that even they never suspected were there.  This is not as simplistic as "Single White Female," nor as dark, but I have never seen LuPone so vulnerable on stage as she appears, at times, in this. She was not a bit believable as Fantine, but her "Passion" showed she had the chops for vulnerability.   Farrow plays a likable, mousy sort, who is soon revealed to have a steel spine lurking underneath.  And this is what makes them a fascinating duo.  Under the direction of Jack O'Brien and Marsha Mason, both actresses play on the public's perception of what they think are their true selves--but is the public right?  Is the audience right about the characters?

                                           That is the fun of watching Farrow and LuPone.  They go in directions one is not expecting, and one feels sadness for both, but especially Farrow as Sharon.  Though I thought, as the play ended, she would eventually find another roommate.

                                               There is even a verbal cameo by that fine young man, Ronan Farrow!  If only he had appeared live on stage! Some of us would have gone crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I know I would have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   "The Roommate" is like a master acting class, with two mistresses of the craft, going at it.

                                                     Be sure not to miss them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                     As Mia might say, "Tannis, anyone?????????????"