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The Lucky One Is In the Eye of the Beholder
The Mint Theater
Company brings another excellent production to life with The Lucky One.
Written by A. A. Milne before he was typecast as a children's writer,
it is the story of two brothers and the effect of jealousy. As with
every Mint production, it is a beautifully realized play with
outstanding acting.
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| Robert David Grant, Ari Brand - photo: Richard Termine |
Robert
David Grant plays Gerald Farrindon, the sparkling brother. Gerald is
handsome, athletic, smart and has success in his profession and personal
life. Ari Brand plays Bob, "poor Bob". Poor Bob is the less attractive,
shorter brother. He is less loved by his parents, less capable at work
and less able to express himself. Paton Ashbrook plays Pamela,
introduced first as Gerald's finance, and we learn first a friend of
Bob's.
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| Robert David Grant, Cynthia Harris - photo: Richard Termine |
The Lucky One
begins at the Farrindon family estate, where Gerald and Pamela are
announcing their engagement. We are introduce to the family, the mother
and father dote on Gerald. It is one of those family's with a limited
amount of love and support, so Bob barely receives a nod, much less his
parents' affection. Only Aunt Tabitha (a charming Cynthia Harris) keeps
an eye out for Bob, and offers help.
And Bob needs help. He is in over his head at work, quite possibly in legal trouble and comes to Gerald for help.
Mr.
Grant does a wonderful job with Gerald. He wears a consistent grin, but
it plays, at various times, as sly, noncommittal, friendly, devoted and
angry. It is a great performance that takes a while to fully expose
itself. You think of Gerald as the superficial twit for quite a long
time. Ari Brand's Bob is harder to like. He has internalized the lack of
support from his parents and turned it into a emotional scab that he
picks at.
It is a very nice show, but it isn't a revelation. The Lucky One
tells the tale of sibling rivalry that seems ordinary. It moves well
from point A to B to C, but nothing really surprises here. Director
Jesse Marchese does a good job, and the wit is sparkling - but not
unexpected.
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| Paton Ashbrook, Ari Brand - photo: Richard Tremine |
The Lucky One | Playwright: A. A. Milne | Director: Jesse Marchese | Cast: Paton
Ashbrook, Ari Brand, Robert David Brand, Cynthia Harris, Michael
Fredric, Andrew Fallaize, Wynn Harmon, Deanne Lorette, Peggy J. Scott,
Mia Hutchinson-Shaw | Website