REVIEW: Somewhere Between Riverside And Crazy
Through 07/27 @ Albany Civic Theatre
Photos by Andrew Elder for Best Frame Forward
“It’s messy, it’s filthy, it's righteous!”
Harbinger Theatre’s production of Pulitzer Prize winning, Between Riverside And Crazy, penned by Stephen Adly Guirgis is currently running at the Albany Civic Theatre (located at 235 2nd Ave) until July 27th, and I was lucky enough to catch a performance this past Sunday.
It was directed by Patrick White, who started Harbinger Theatre. When I entered the theatre, I was greeted by friendly faces and smiles including White’s, and there was a clear excitement and passion in the air, which usually means you’re about to be in for a real treat. As it turns out, that was the case.
I made my way into the theatre to find an open seat, and was impressed by this old Albany Firehouse turned little piece of Broadway. The theatre is very intimate, to the point of the actors and actresses not needing microphones I would soon find out, so there was an immediate immersiveness when the play started. Between Riverside And Crazy follows the story of a recently widowed, retired NYPD officer named “Pops,” who was played by Hasson Harris Wilcher. A loveable curmudgeon, he lives with his son, “Junior,” played by Marquis Heath, Junior’s girlfriend “Lulu,” played by Jenny Forson, and “Oswaldo,” a young man who has had a rough childhood into adulthood, but is being allowed to live at the apartment. These characters and a myriad of jokes set an early comedic tone, helped by the clear chemistry and trust between the actors. As things move along, you find out aspects of all their lives that only complicate matters – then enters Elizabeth Wellspeak’s “Detective O’Connor” and J. Hunter’s “Caro.”
Having been lulled into a feeling of safety by the constant jokes, things took a dramatic turn and the tension was palpable. There we (the audience) were, as flies on the wall for conflict that turned the entire mood on its head. This was easily one of the highlights of this performance. The way Wilcher’s portrayal goes from being this hardened, yet loveable curmudgeon into this soft, vulnerable person right before your eyes was remarkable. It was helped with strong counterparts in Wellspeak and Hunter’s portrayal of a twisted good cop, bad cop routine which works on different levels in the context of the story.
Soon after, we meet Sadrina Renee’s “Church Lady.” Not only is “Church Lady” a vital character, but Renee’s portrayal might have stolen the show. Her comedic timing and energy were off the charts, and for the first time, it started to feel like there was going to be some resolution starting. The beauty of this play however, is its unpredictability, which was summed up by White in the Harbinger press release for this production: “It’s messy, it’s filthy, it's righteous!” That’s exactly what this play is. With layer upon layer of social and racial commentary, as well as the examination of a father and son’s relationship, this play made me laugh out loud, and ultimately left me leaving the theatre feeling different about the world. That’s what a great play, actors, director, and crew can do.
There are only three performances left. For more information, go to Albany Civic Theatre’s website or get your tickets now!