Marie and Bruce

Opened on April 5, 2011 on Theatre Row at the Acorn Theatre on 42nd and 9th Ave. It runs until May 7, 2011.

The play orginally opened 1980 at the Public Theatre starring Louise Lasser and Bob Balaban.

The public is not allowed into the theatre untill 10 minute before the show is to begin. The stage is set with big bed, two dressers on either side of the bed. The walls are surrounded by book shelves.

Marie (Marisa Tomei) and her husband Bruce (Frank Whaley) are asleep in the bed. Marie wakes up cursing (that would make a sailor blush) at Bruce how much she hates him and wants out of their relationship. The bickering goes on through the whole play.

The end tables have their clothes in them, which they use to change into.

Marie agrees to meet Bruce at his friends Frank's party. Bruce agrees to go with her after to a cafe so they can talk. Marie is bored by the party and would be happy some place else.

They go to the cafe but nothing is said or resolved.

There are people that are in a relationship that want out for one reason or nother but are afraid to leave.

The acting is great between the lead characters. Marisa as the hurt I'm not loved wife. Frank as I know I'm not so great but I am who I am. The rest of the cast holds their own.

There are too many questions left unanswered which would have helped give the play more substance and more understanding why the characters feel the way they do.

The playwright Wallace Shawn said "when it orginally opened not everybody liked it that much the first time. Usually people do plays they're confident that everyone will like". "He's reworked the play--I'm colllaborating with my old self , and have changed it quite a bit ".

But not enough, if he had let us know how long they were married, when she started feeling this way etc. Their were times I wasn't sure if what I heard was what they were thinking or what they were saying to their partner?

Any way that's my opinion.

Review ny Rozanna Radakovich.

Photos by Annazor.