Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum presents the revival of the original play commissioned in 1981. The playwright is Academy Award-winning writer Ernest Thompson and the director is Mary Jo DuPrey.
The story is placed in a New York’s Upper West Side apartment building. Margaret Mary Elderdice (Ellen Geer) is an aging pianist who lives alone and likes to play music with her younger neighbor Cara Varnum (Melora Marshall, The Merry Wives of Windsor), a violinist who, despite her best efforts, plays out of tune at times. The two neighbors are visited occasionally by the building’s super Serge America (Miguel Perez), an immigrant with an affable attitude. Margaret decides to hire a much younger Robin Bird (Willow Geer, The Merry Wives of Windsor ) as a companion, creating some friction with Cara, who wanted to be Margaret’s companion.
As time goes by, Robin reveals that she was married for 7 years, but her husband left her for someone else. She is also an aspiring actress that needs to practice her audition skills. It’s in Margaret’s apartment that the three women fight, laugh, and grow closer together. Three generations with similar and dissimilar views on life, but somehow connected by the same need, the need of human connection.
The story is placed in 1985, when the AIDS epidemic was ravaging the world, specially the gay community. It’s in those circumstances that Robin’s worst fears are exposed. At the same time, Margaret’s ability to walk declines one day at a time. Cara reveals that her beloved cat has died. Margaret reveals the loss of her brother during the Spanish flu. The pain, the memories, and New York’s cold weather, makes Margaret’s apartment a refuge, and the music becomes the medicine to soothe the soul.
With Robin’s surprising engagement to boyfriend Glen Darson (Charles Lin, The Merry Wives of Windsor), and Serge’s surprising firing as the building’s super, Margaret and Cara have to make a decision as what they will do as two lonely women in the twilight of their lives.
Marshall’s performance as a naive and witty Cara is extraordinary. Ellen Geer shows her fantastic skills in this season as both an excellent director (The Merry Wives of Windsor) and a passionate performer. The stage, music, and lighting create a warmth and homely background to depict the center of this drama.
The West Side Waltz
Written by Ernest Thompson. Directed by Mary Jo DuPrey. Presented by Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum. Starring Ellen Geer, Willow Geer, Melora Marshall, Charles Lin, and Miguel Pérez.
Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum
1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Topanga CA 90290
(midway between Pacific Coast Highway and the Ventura Freeway)
For tickets and dates: https://theatricum.com/
