One word perfectly describes Willy Russell’s ‘Shirley Valentine’ ... and that word is ‘irresistible’
WARREN — A funny, insightful but unpretentious play, plus a wonderful performance in an up-close-and-personal setting mean great theater, and it’s happening now at 2nd Story Theatre.
The play is Willy Russell’s “Shirley Valentine.” The actor is Joanne Fayan, and the location is the UpStage space at 2nd Story, made intimate with its in-the-round configuration.
Theater goers are in the palm of Fayan’s hand as she regales us with Shirley’s tale. Mark Peckham directs her in this one-woman performance, and for roughly an hour and 45 minutes, those of us in the audience don’t think of anything except Shirley’s unfolding adventures. She’s irresistible.
Russell’s play is rooted in the 1980s zeitgeist of women who feel held back by conventional expectations for their roles at home and at work. “What turned me into this?” Shirley asks at one point. “Did something happen?” Or is the problem that nothing happened. Shirley realizes she owes it to herself, to all her “unused life,” to do something about her situation.
In this case, it’s a holiday in Greece, offered by her feminist friend. Just how disruptive this would be is established during the first half of the play as Shirley talks about the routines of her home life, raising her son and daughter, and living with her husband. She gets into her own defining experiences growing up, from being daring and rebellious to being put down by a dismissive teacher. She also speaks directly – and hilariously -about female sexual pleasure.
Through much of her monologue, Fayan is peeling potatoes for “tea,” (Russell is British), which her husband, Joe, expects to have on the table when he arrives home from work. It’s a mundane act representative of Shirley’s existence.
Her story, however, is rich with humor and understanding. She describes marriage, for example, as being “like the Middle East. There’s no solution.” She’d always thought she would leave when the kids were grown, but admits, “It’s easier not to go, to stay where it’s safe.”
An encounter with a former classmate that has an unexpected outcome and another with a neighbor whose opinion comes to be influential propel Shirley to action. With a mix of exhilaration and terror, often played with humor, she heads to Greece.
Not unexpectedly, Shirley rediscovers herself on this holiday, but just how she does it, and where that realization leads her, is not entirely predictable. It is, however, a lifechanging experience.
Fayan brings her considerable talents to making the character and her experiences believable and engaging. She’s a great storyteller, but to this she adds all the elements of acting: expression, movement, demeanor. She’s a comedienne, delivering funny lines with aplomb, but she’s just as adept at deeper emotions.
Moreover, Fayan is all alone in the round, addressing an audience that surrounds her; people in some rows are within arm’s reach. It’s like she and Peckham have choreographed a dance that keeps her connected with all sections of the audience.
Just a few props, from a table in a kitchen to a table in a Greek tavern, and some evocative lighting, especially the Greek sunshine, create atmosphere; Max Ponticelli is the artist. Ron Cesario’s costumes, from frumpy to resort worthy, visually underscore Shirley’s transformation.
Russell’s play has been widely recognized, earning an Olivier Award as Best New Comedy in 1988 and a Tony Award nomination as Best Play in 1989. Amovie adaptation was nominated for Academy and Golden Globe Best Film honors.
The performance at 2nd Story shows why, bringing out all the best: the humor, the insight and especially the heart.