This one took my breath away! Not at first. I thought Danny Burstein as Matt Friedman was going to go on, and on in a soliloquy, then just as I started finding him amusing, there came Sarah Paulson as Sally Talley. And this was when my breath left me. Still within its preview, Talley’s Folly, written by Lanford Willson, and Directed by Michael Wilson will officially open on March 5th, and close on May 5th.  It is a two character cast play which proceeds in an old boathouse on the Talley’s Farm in Missouri. The stage is a beautiful cool ruin.

You may already know the story, as the original play won a Pulitzer Price. I didn’t.  I got the tickets very last minute, and hopped-up to the Laura Pels Theater on West 46th street on Valentine’s day; trying my best to dodge hand-gripping lovers and ridiculous sized flowers floating through the air in Time Square. It was worth it.

What it is about is two people whose oddness make them perfect for each other. However, they both keep tight lids on their stories and are afraid to share. A huge part of the play centers on Sally and Matt trying to open up. The play is witty and loaded with several touching moments.

Both Paulson and Friedman, are immensely talented and they are able to make you feel as if you are really there in that boathouse with them. You are witnessing two people  who seem about to commit to each other, and yet you find yourself on the edge of your seat wondering if they would dare. The language is clever, their display of passion very entertaining, and when the play ends––bonding Sally and Danny––you are relieved that this two found each other.

With Roundabout productions you are able to get discounts through hiptix. You get to see Broadway and Off-broadway shows in NYC for about $20.00 or less sometimes. A while back I explained hiptix in A Cheap Way to Broadway and Off-Broadway Shows.

–
Jane