(:)(:)(:)(:) for a very solid production of Sam Shepard's play "Fool for Love" now playing at the Capital Stage in Old Sacramento through April 27, 2008.
I've lost track of how many times I've seen this play produced. This is certainly the first time I've seen a production since I came to grasp something of the depth of obsession people can have for alcoholism and for each other. Sam Shepard gets it right on the money.
Jonathan Rhys Williams gives the standout performance as Eddie, the bad ass love obsession returned to make May miserable. His physicality combined with raw intensity is mesmerizing. He made me totally believe that he had driven 2000 miles to have May, that he thought that he had changed, and that he would never ever change.
Stephanie Gularte is stunning and believable as May, but she tends to push her performances a little over the top so that one is from time to time too conscious of her "acting." Also, having seen both Williams and Gularte in other productions, I am starting to form the opinion that Williams is the more versatile actor. Gularte has a way that she plays certain emotions and she tends to carry that way from part to part.
Most importantly, the chemistry and sheer obsessive connection between these two characters is established almost immediately. Without that, no production of this play could recover and this one has it in spades.
The play clearly is under a capable director in Janis Stevens (this is the first play I've seen that she's directed, so I was nervous). And Loren Taylor turns in a solid performance as The Old Man.
All and all another gem churned out by the increasingly reliable Capital Stage, Sacramento's newest professional theater company with (this year at least) the best deal in the region on season tickets, $50 total for 5 plays. See Fool for Love while its here and subscribe next year.
Oh, and if money and time is no object, join Capital Stage on a great sounding theater and wine trip to Ashland, Oregon next month.
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