THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Off-Broadway revival of William Nicholson’s sturdy SHADOWLANDS is solidly acted

Daniel Gerroll and Robin Abramson in Fellowship for Performing Arts' production of "Shadowlands" by William Nicholson at the Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row.

Daniel Gerroll and Robin Abramson in Fellowship for Performing Arts’ production of “Shadowlands” by William Nicholson at the Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row.

Last night, I caught the Off-Broadway revival of William Nicholson’s 1989 play Shadowlands (the piece played the West End and subsequently Broadway in 1990), a somewhat pat though nonetheless touching drama about the improbable romance between renown British intellectual and author C.S. Lewis and Joy Gresham, a Jewish-American writer. When Gresham is struck with cancer, Lewis must come to terms with the realities of the situation vis-à-vis his belief system.

As befits the sturdily-written play, Fellowship for Performing Arts’ handsome revival – directed by Christa Scott-Reed – is nothing less than competent. The cast is solid, and is led admirably by Daniel Gerroll as Lewis and Robin Abramson as Gresham. Both excel at finding the nuances in their characters’ initial odd couple relationship (Lewis, typically proper; Gresham, deliciously frank), and are endearing as their love blossoms. It’s to the actors’ great credit that I was genuinely moved when the admittedly old fashioned story takes a turn upon Gresham’s illness.

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SHADOWLANDS
Off-Broadway, Play
Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row
2 hours, 15 minutes (with one intermission)
Through January 7

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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