Final Follies

Final Follies is playing at the Cherry Lane Theatre located at 38 Commerce Street. It runs two hours with one intermission. The play closes October 21, 2018.

Final Follies are made up of three plays written by A. R. Gurney. The plays are The Love Course, The Rape of Bunny Stuntz and Final Follies.

Greg Mullavey is known for his role as Tom Hartman on the 1970’s television series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

Deborah Rush was nominated for a Tony Award for Noises Off (1984).

Final Follies is the first play. Nelson (Colin Hanlon) comes into an office looking for a job. Tanisha (Rachael Nicks) tells him they make educational films for adults. His reply is the door man told him they make porn movies. One thing leads to another, he gets the job. Nelson is a success.

His brother Walter (Mark Junek) comes to the office to see if that is his brother in the films. A friend saw one and told him about. He is a good Christian and would never watch those types of films. Tanisha won’t tell him.

Nelson and Walters grandfather (Greg Mullavey) is rich and helps them financially. He shows the grandfather the film. Instead of shocking him, the film impresses him.

The second play is The Rape of Bunny Stunz. Bunny Stunz (Deborah Rus) is holding meeting. Anything to do with the meeting is in a metal box which is locked. She’s forgotten the key. She has Howie (Piter Marek) called her husband to get the key. When he comes back he tells her that her husband can’t find the key and some people are going downstairs.

Wilma Trumbo (Betsy Aidem) tries to help with the meeting. To the left there is a man we can’t see dandling a key Bunny claims she doesn’t know him. Or that is the key she is missing. She finally approaches the man. Let’s say you have to see it to know happens.

After intermission the last play is The Love Course. Professor Burgess (Piter Marek) was asked by his colleague Professor Carroway (Betsy Aidem) to help with this new class on love. This is the last and only time this class will be done. Carroway did not get tenure and will be teaching someplace else. Burgess is going into the administered part of the college. He says he can’t stay for the class he has a meeting to attend and leaves. Carroway has one of her students Sally (Rachael Nicks) boyfriend Mike (Colin Hanlon) to go after him. She sends him back several times until she goes herself. Sally is left to teach the class. When he does come back we learn more things about the professors. The ending is the best.

This is the most delightful off off Broadway shows I have seen in a long time. The plays are long enough you enjoy and not bog you down.

The cast does an impressive performance. Colin Hanlon and Piter Marek facial expressions are the best!

Don’t miss out on seeing these well done plays.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich.

Photos by Annazor.

To read a candid interview with the cast, scroll down to the left for photos. Click on photos for this and other shows.