Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Tyne and Tim Daley headline Theresa Rebeck’s predictable DOWNSTAIRS

• By drediman
• December 6, 2018
• No Comments

Tim Daly and Tyne Daly in Primary Stages’ production of Theresa Rebeck’s “Downstairs” at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Photo by James Leynse.

Even for the standards of the prolific Theresa Rebeck, this fall theater season has shaped up to be a busy few months for the ubiquitous writer (she writes for television and is a novelist, in addition to being an accomplished playwright). Earlier this fall, Broadway saw her rock solid Bernhardt/Hamlet at the American Airlines Theatre – courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company – starring the majestic Janet McTeer. And last weekend, I caught more of Ms. Rebeck, whose domestic psychological thriller Downstairs (directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt) is currently enjoying an Off-Broadway run at the charming Cherry Lane Theatre via Primary Stages.

Unfortunately, Downstairs is a step down from the Ms. Rebeck’s fiery and often times inspired work for Bernhardt/Hamlet. Downstairs is a much less ambitious play; it tells the story of two middle aged siblings, Irene and Teddy, played (you got it) by real-life siblings Tyne and Tim Daley. Although both are good people, they’re also flawed – she’s unable to stand up to her abusive husband, while he’s socially awkward and just generally befuddled. No spoilers here, but things get more interesting when Irene’s hostile husband Gerry tries to kick Teddy out their basement (where the play is set; hence the play’s title).

But it’s all rather predictable, even in the very capable hands of the fine cast. Even the play’s climactic confrontation was only marginally pulse-racing. Not surprisingly, the Daley siblings were pleasant to watch; their performances exuded warmth and go down very easily. However, I was hoping for some more gravitas from their performances, which is likely the fault of Ms. Rebeck’s somewhat lazy writing. Strangely, the best performance comes from John Procaccino as the play’s antagonist Gerry. He really gets under the character’s skin, producing a performance of uncommon menace, and the intensity of his performance nearly topples the play. Interestingly, Downstairs is the second Off-Broadway play this fall to be set in a basement and deal with marital abuse. The other was the equally uneven Natural Shock by Lauren Gunderson at WP Theater.

SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED

DOWNSTAIRS
Off-Broadway, Play
Primary Stages at the Cherry Lane Theatre
1 hour, 45 minutes (without an intermission)
Through December 22