Review: Lean Ensemble's 'The Waverly Gallery' -- authentic in subject matter, underwhelming on whole

The Waverly Gallery's opening monologue is so authentic, it's as if writer Kenneth Lonergan recorded the frenetic ramblings of a person slowly losing her memory for later use in his play about aging and memory loss.

In fact, there were many such moments in the more than two-hour production now running at the Hilton Head Preparatory School Main Street Theatre.

But the play, while certainly authentic and superbly written (it was nominated for a Pulitzer after all), was underwhelming on the whole and, quite frankly, I don't know if the talented cast of Lean Ensemble could have done any better with it.

Said to be inspired by Lonergan's grandmother in her final years, the play does well in capturing that sense of loss -- not just of one's memory and vitality but of one's identity and place in the world.

It also does well to capture what the family of that person goes through -- the sense of frustration, the overwhelming sadness and despair, the feeling that there's absolutely nothing to be done because, in the end, even your best won't matter.

"It's not true that if you try hard enough you'll prevail in the end," says the play's narrator, Daniel Reed, whose grandmother Gladys is losing her memory. "Because so many people try so hard, and they don't prevail."

It's sad, it's heartbreaking and in many ways it is this sense of authenticity -- of a close and remarkably intimate portrayal of the realities of aging -- that lies at the heart of the play's brilliance.

But at what point does authenticity and an exacting approach fall short in making for an interesting theatrical performance?

That is the question I struggled with as I left the theater Friday night.

While the play's individual performances were quite good, at times its heavy subject matter overshadowed any positive aspects of the production, such as L.A.-based actress Anne Cooper's performance of Gladys Green, who gradually loses her mind before our very eyes.

Cooper's performance -- with its long, potentially exhaustive lines of dialogue -- was so superb; it might be worth the play's price of admission on its own merit.

Still, there seemed to be a general flatness among the production overall.

Case in point: The play began to drag about 30 minutes in and again toward the end. Though humorous exchanges between Gladys and Daniel, or Gladys and other members of the family, did well to break up its more tedious moments, the production could have benefited from tighter direction, perhaps, or quicker, more energetic performances.

In general, the cast did a good job of handling complex scenes when everyone is talking at once or trying their best to deal with Gladys.

I'm just not sure there were enough of those moments or moments of levity to counterbalance an otherwise static production overall. Or, perhaps, "The Waverly Gallery" just doesn't translate well as an on-stage production.

I do agree with its director, Nick Newell, and ensemble member, Blake White, that its subject matter certainly warrants discussion among those in the audience who presumably come from the Hilton Head area, where more than 40 percent of all households have a member who is 65 years or older.

But that raises yet another question in terms of who, exactly, is this play for?

If someone is familiar with the subject matter, the play might be too painful or overwhelming to sit through 2 1/2 hours of an emotional assault as one watches first one family member and then another break down.

If you're not familiar with those struggles and are just there for the theatrical performance, the play may not draw you in as much or may leave you feeling, at the very least, a bit numb -- if not downright depressed -- about the possibilities of aging.

Still, Lean Ensemble should be praised for bringing plays to the area that Lowcountry audiences may not otherwise have the opportunity to see -- plays that spark thought and discussion.

I'm just not certain this was the best selection for the theater group, but I'll definitely be watching to see what they take on next.

If You Go

Lean Ensemble Theater's "The Waverly Gallery" is at 7:30 p.m. tonight and 2 p.m. Sunday at Hilton Head Preparatory School Main Street Theatre, 3000 Main St., Hilton Head Island.

Audience talk-backs will be held after each performance.

Tickets are $40; $35 for the matinee.

Discounts are available for students and active members of the military.

For details, call the box office at 843-715-6676 or visit www.leanensemble.org.

Follow reporter Mindy Lucas on Twitter at twitter.com/MindyatIPBG.

Related content:

• Lucas: Hilton Head's Lean Ensemble will shine a light on memory loss in 'The Waverly Gallery'

This story was originally published January 30, 2016 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Review: Lean Ensemble's 'The Waverly Gallery' -- authentic in subject matter, underwhelming on whole."