BWW Reviews: RECKLESS: Blew Christmas

Let me start by saying that I’m a big fan of Reckless, I’ve seen the show many times in many productions. There’s something powerful about the script, by Craig Lucas, in which a woman goes jumping out the window on Christmas Eve, that always thrills me. The script is full of surprises and turnarounds which I won’t spoil here. The play has many wonderful things to say about charity and kindness and the Christmas spirit, and thanks to The Gallery Players for bringing it around this holiday season.

This production is mostly very good. Heather Siobhan Curran directs with a clear vision; though there are one or two missteps (e.g. staging events differently than they are described later in the play, and foreshadowing the appearance of a surprise character later on). Carey Van Driest is excellent in the lead as Rachel, as is Lauren Roth as Pooty. Lara Knox is full of snarky humor as Trish, and Allison Moody is clearly having a ball playing all of Rachel’s doctors. The men do not fare so well; Jan-Peter Pedross is totally down with Lloyd’s lighter side, but when things get dark, he still plays them for comedy. Jason Jacoby gives oddly mannered caricatures of the roles he plays- rather than just let them be funny, he over-sells his own schtick. Zac Hoogendyk does nice work as Tom.

Set Designer Jason Sherwood has designed a lovely landscape of snow-covered miniature houses, which facilitates the quick scene changes, and it's well-lit by Annie Weigand. Kristina Shneshkoff's costumes are full of Christmas motifs, and Julianne Merril's sound design digs deep for the eeriest Christmas music.

On the whole, this is a fine production of a great play.

Reckless

The Gallery Players

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2 and Sundays at 3pm through Sunday, December 18.

Tickets $18 for adults, $14 for Seniors & Children 12 and under. Individual tickets can be purchased by calling TheaterMania at (212) 352-3101, or online at www.galleryplayers.com.

The Gallery Players is located at 199 14th St., between 4th and 5th Aves. in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Take the F Train to 4th Ave. or the R Train to 9th Street. By car: BQE to Hamilton Avenue to 14^th Street.

Pictured (l to r): Jan-Peter Pedross, Lauren Roth, and Carey Van Driest in The Gallery Players production of Reckless. Photo by Bella Muccari.

Duncan Pflaster is an award-winning playwright whose plays have been produced all over. He also has been known to direct, write music, play the ukulele, and (if his arm is twisted) act. He won second place in the 2009 Stage and Cinema's New York City Theater Review Contest. www.duncanpflaster.com

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