The two plays are written by very different playwrights, who have each contributed greatly to the world of theatre as we know it: Samuel Beckett and Eugene O'Neill. Beckett is known primarily for Waiting For Godot, and O'Neill is known for The Iceman Cometh, A Moon For The Misbegotten, and Long Day's Journey Into Night.
O'Neill died in 1953, just as Beckett was emerging as a playwright. It's not clear whether these two playwrights ever met each other, or saw one another's work. What is clear though is that these two brilliant writers shared something in common – sharing the stories of those longing for change from their present situations, dealing with the realization that the life they led is not exactly where they want to be. Krapp's Last Tape and Hughie embody that theme perfectly.
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival made a very wise choice in putting these two pieces together, and adding them to the 2008 Studio Theatre season. An even better choice was getting theatre and screen legend Brian Dennehy to star in both of them. Dennehy is well known for his stage work, mostly on Broadway, in plays like the recent Broadway revivals of Death Of A Salesman and Long Day's Journey Into Night, forwhich he won Tony Awards. Most would know him from his film work, including Romeo & Juliet and Gladiator. Unlike many film actors who spend little time treading the boards, Dennehy understands the nature of live theatre, and here in these two plays, many outstanding qualities are showcased.
The performance begins with Hughie, which features Joe Grifasi as the Night Clerk opposite Dennehy's Erie, a down-on-his luck gambler, who arrives back at his hotel after a long bender, several thousand dollars in debt. Erie introduces himself to the Night Clerk, who has taken the position over after the previous clerk, Hughie, passed away. Over the next 45 minutes or so, Erie takes the audience (and the Night Clerk) on a journey, detailing the highs and lows of his life, and how much he enjoyed Hughie's company. The Night Clerk can only stand and listen to Erie, as he spews random thoughts and stories out of his mouth at a furious pace.
Robert Falls, who is the Artistic Director at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, helmed Hughie, and does a wonderful job at keeping the action going while Erie spills his life story in front of us. While the Studio Theatre is quite small, Falls uses every inch of space to give us the illusion of a large foyer in a hotel. He paces the piece beautifully, giving the audience just enough time to digest Erie's sometimes random musings and thoughts, and also allowing the audience to be fully engaged by Dennehy and the words of O'Neill.
Joe Grifasi does an excellent job at allowing Dennehy as much room on stage as possible, and while his character doesn't speak often, Grifasi remains engaged throughout. While Erie is tragic and you simply have to feel for what he's going through, much of the comedic elements in the piece are handled wonderfully by Grifasi.
Hughie may not be as well known as the play it is paired with, Krapp's Last Tape, but it is definitely worthy to be part of this illustrious theatre festival, especially when it is handled with such care and throughtfulness as it is here, with Robert Falls at the helm and a star like Brian Dennehy taking the lead.
Hughie
***** (out of five)
Stratford Festival Of Canada Website
