At first glance, the plot of Edward Albee’s play Seascape sounds absolutely ridiculous: “On a deserted beach, a middle-aged couple encounter two ‘humanesque’ sea creatures contemplating the evolutionary leap to dry land.” Middle-aged couple captured mid-squabble about their life choices? Sure, sure, we’ve all seen Albee’s masterpiece Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? A duo of equally unsatisfied lizard-like creatures discovering their own advancement? Hells yes, fantastic beasts and peculiar children, I’m all in!
Albee’s fanciful tale of two couples pensively facing their next stage in life is being given a solid staging at 2nd Story Theatre on their Upstage space now until February 5. For fans of Albee, this 1975 Pulitzer Prize-winning play is a true bucket-list show. Long considered a “problematic” play, amid stories of an original second act that was set entirely underwater, the published two-act script offers up much of Albee’s trademark sardonic wit as well as examination of just what is is that makes us human.
Set against the deliciously inviting dunes of designer Max Ponticelli’s beachscape, we meet longtime couple Nancy and Charlie. They are trademark middle-class, retirement-aged WASP-y Albee types. Nancy (Susan Bowen Powers) longs to enjoy their newfound empty-nester status and spend the rest of their life exploring the beach – not just one, but perhaps EVERY one.
While she seems desperate to live a life full of adventure, her husband Charlie (Ed Shea) really just wants to lie down and REST. One can relate to his plea: After reaching that point in his life where one can stop the cycle of working, running, raising children and just stop to bask in the sun, hell, why not? Like a woodpecker tapping away tirelessly to reach its goal, Nancy’s stream of thought onslaught is seemingly unstoppable. She circles Charlie and takes aim at the problems in their marriage. No subject seems off limits, but her husband deflects each barrage and takes it all in stride with well-learned survival tactics. For most of the first act, they are balanced forces in motion, circling each other, rejecting the other’s desires and putting their beliefs before the other. As the conversation goes back and forth, it is evident that if this goes on much further, a separation is on the horizon.
Into this “Virginia Woolf-Lite on repeat” song cycle enters the two reptilian characters, here to liberate the couple (and by association, we the audience) from their unending dispute and allow them to focus on something outside themselves. Inventively costumed in intricate and fanciful detail by designer Ron Cesario, the creatures are indeed quite a sight as they first crawl over the dunes. Their initial meeting is played for extreme laughs and delivers on all accounts.
We learn that the sea dwellers speak English (most graciously, I might add) and are themselves a long partnered couple named Leslie (Charles Lafond) and Sarah (Valerie Westgate). These surprisingly civilized “creatures” as played by the equally delightful Lafond and Westgate are perfection. Balancing guileless inexperience with a lovely sense of the couple’s devotion, they play off each other wonderfully and are incredibly engaging. Faced with the beachgoers’ incomprehensible greetings, unnecessary clothing, strange mannerisms and distinctly different approach to child-rearing, the cast works together well and the scenes bounce along at a nice clip.
As they attempt to educate their new friends on such heady topics of humanity, emotions, evolution and the ways of their world, Nancy and Charles seem to change. Bowen Powers’ Nancy softens, taking on more maternal tones and explaining intimate things to Sarah with excitement and newfound energy. By comparison, Shea’s Charlie is challenged and frustrated by the whole scenario, and takes on a more posturing, Alpha male position.
As with many of his plays, Albee puts forth some strong opinions about marriage, regret and desire and our circumscribed roles in life. While there are many laughs to be had, there is much to consider after the fact in regard to our own evolution and growth.
2nd Story Theatre presents Seascape by Edward Albee, directed by Ed Shea, Upstage at 2nd Story Theatre now through February 5th. Tickets available online at 2ndstorytheatre.com and by phone at 401-762-4545.