Lane Binkley
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Recent Reviews

Going On

I’ve just seen the New York premiere of “Going On,” a lovely comedy written by Charles Dennis, directed simply and effectively by Carol Bennett Gerber starring Lane Binkley and Charles E. Gerber, both wonderful, but I think I’m a little in love with her. It’s about Lynn & Alfred, not Fontanne & Lunt, more or less professional understudies. They’re in a Broadway hit, but the leading lady and leading man seem indestructible. We learn that Lynn and Alfred are both smart, edgy
slightly neurotic, often insecure people — hey, they’re actors! Act I ends with Lynn going on.
In the 2nd Act Lynn has a much grander dressing room — of course, since a large poster shows she’s been given star billing. Alfred comes to her spiffy new dressing room after the funeral of his rather crazy mother — it’s a wonderful comic monologue from Charles E. Gerber — and at the end of the scene Lynn has to sober Alfred up because he’s going on to replace the leading man. Charles Dennis, whom I first saw in a workshop play he wrote — it was like Pirandello on acid — has filled a rather more conventional piece filled with delicious theatre love AND GOSSIP. Charles E. Gerber — Alfred — is fine and believable with great, funny physical moves and a great rubber face.Lane Binkley, as Lynn, is a wonderful, glowing presence. She lights up the stage with her smile, she is almost an old-fashioned stage star: pretty, quick, graceful and thoroughly enchanting. Both actors have splendid comic timing and play beautifully off each other. Binkley and Gerber are terrific pros. I had a marvelous time. 

I’m talking about “Going On” at the Trilogy Theatre, 341 W. 44th 
Street (8th & 9th Avenues), box office 212~489-1632, playing 
Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm through 
November 24. For listener-sponsored WBAI, NY this is Lee Ryan, on a rainy 
opening night in the theatre district. Go. Enjoy! 

Second Chance
By Tony Sportiello 
Directed by Michael Mislove
42nd St. WorkShop
432 W. 42nd St. 5th fi. (695-4173)
Equity showcase (closes Jan. 20)
Review by Julie Halpern

What if you could save the life of someone you love by dying in his or her place? Would you do it? This provocative question was the premise for Tony Sportiello’s intriguing new play. A young husband in the heat of passion declares he would lay down his life for his beautiful young wife. He doesn’t realize that he is about to held to his promise. 

Three successful young suburban couples are celebrating New Year’s Eve at the home of Doug and Karen, whose obvious adoration of one another causes the other couples to re-evalute their marriages. Karen is a dedicated doctor and her husband Doug is a successful sportswriter, as are the other two husbands. Mitch and Amy are about to leave for a trip to the Far East, and the sorry state of Dan and Jackie’s marriage is revealed, fuelled by excessive drinking by all. Karen remembers an errand, promising to return in five minutes, but she has a car accident and is killed instantly. The grieving Doug is soon visited by two stylish figures named Leila and Jake, who seem to have stepped out of a Noel Coward play. They are spirits from the other side who ask Doug if he was serious about giving up his life for Karen. They give him the opportunity to make good on his pledge, and give him six weeks to think it over. Time is turned back six weeks and Doug must live with Karen aware that one of them will die. After a great deal of soul-searching, Doug reaches a decision.

Sportiello’s twists and turns had the audience at the edge of their seats, with the help of Mislove’s taut, snappy direction. The incisive writing and talented ensemble brought empathy to the unremarkable characters, reminiscent of novels by Jay Mclnerney.

Greg Skura was outstanding as the sensitive, conflicted Doug, and Dee Dee Friedman was irresistible as the intense, glamorous Karen. Holly Hawkins was magnificent as Karen’s bored, promiscuous sister Jackie, and Michael Rhodes’s Dan complemented Hawkins with his intense, self-deprecating humor and sensuality. Dave Konig and Jennifer Jiles as Mitch and Amy had underwritten roles but infused them with charm and energy. The strongest work of the evening was contributed by Lane Binkley and Bill Tatum as the decadent, martini-quaffing spirits. Binkley’s gentle, balanced performance was spellbinding, particularly in the final scene.   The set and lights functioned smoothly, and the costumes were appropriate for each character.