THE THEATER MIRROR, New England's LIVE Theater Guide
|
MARQUEE | USHER | SEATS |
INTERMISSION | CURTAIN |
note: entire contents copyright 2007 by Beverly Creasey
Now that I’ve seen the whole KENTUCKY CYCLE, I’m convinced it’s a male soap opera with historical affectations…and lousy parts for women. Christine Power is the only actress who gets to do anything of substance in Part II. Maureen Adduci is a powerhouse performer but she’s relegated to patting heads as Mother Jones instead of tearing up the stage as the firebrand reformer.
Alas, the men get all the good speeches. Curt Klump gets to swagger as the macho coal miner/boxer and Greg Maraio gets to play the tragic hero as the union organizer. Jeffrey Phillips is sensational as the evil mine owner and Peter Brown is the new boss, just like the old boss whose son (Terrence Haddad) pays the ultimate price, à la ALL MY SONS. Maybe it’s a guy thing, and a guy play. I just didn’t get it.