Grace
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Cititour.com Review
One's relationship with God is a very personal matter. So it's only fitting that the best moments in Craig Wright's majorly misguided new play Grace occur in monologues. Karl, a German exterminator (gruff yet jolly Edward Asner), reveals the horrific childhood incident that turned him into a nonbeliever. Sam, a disfigured NASA computer genius besieged by guilt (Michael Shannon), recounts the events that led to a tragic car crash. Sara, the wife of a fundamentalist Christian businessman (Kate Arrington), remembers a pivotal moment of conversion she experienced as a teenager.
At such times, the astuteness and sensitivity of Wright’s dramatic abilities lift Grace above standard-issue playmaking. But there aren’t enough of them to make this 90-minute one-acter memorable. The problem begins with the remaining member of this quartet, Steve, the aforementioned businessman, played uncertainly by Paul Rudd. Believing his calling is to launch a string of Christian motels, he’s left Minnesota for Florida, only to find that his revenue stream has dried up. That, coupled with turmoil in his personal life, pushes him to question the belief system that’s been his life’s driving force.
Had Wright written a compelling plot to go with his worthy theme of overriding faith and lack thereof, one might be more willing to invest in his characters. But his play moves from quirky evangelical satire to severely dark drama without much finesse. Despite great performances from Asner, Arrington and the always stunning Shannon, director Dexter Bullard can’t pull everything into a cohesive whole. Even if they are occasionally divine, the virtues of Grace are too few.
By Diane Snyder
Visit the Site
http://www.graceonbroadway.com
Cast
Paul Rudd, Michael Shannon, Kate Arrington, Edward Asner
Open/Close Dates
Opening 9/13/2012
Closing 1/6/2013
Box Office
212-239-6200
Theatre Info
James Earl Jones Theatre
138 West 48th Street
New York, NY 10036
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