#thehardproblem

Miss Perloff has assembled a group of actors who deliver dynamic performances all around, with an astute sensitivity to the value of inflection, much like when one delivers a Shakespearean soliloquy. Many of the roles deliver longwinded monologues of expositional science, not necessarily plot-driving exposition, with smoothness and well-thought understanding. Particularly, Miss Perloff’s staging of Dan Clegg (Spike), Stacy Ross (Ursula), and leading lady Brenda Meaney (Hilary) is a bit presentational at times, but does accomplish the goal of keeping the audience engaged and entertained. To follow the many arguments these and other characters make for altruism, egoism, human nature, etc. is a plot of its own, but Mr. Stoppard’s lovely tie-ins to the main plot are solid. Ultimately, and effectively, Miss Perloff leaves no stone unturned when it comes to diving into science or sentiment.

  (Dan Clegg (Spike) and Brenda Meaney (Hilary); Photo Credit: Kevin Berne)

Miss Meaney gives a strong performance in this tour-de-force role. Her balance between the intellectually and physically stimulating encounters with Mr. Clegg’s Spike are nicely comedic, a grounded way to start the play, and her connection with Spike pops up throughout the play just often enough to keep genuine interest in the developing romance. Mr. Clegg delivers a passionately-egotistical Spike, not without humor or sterling depth of the young genius who just wants into girls’ pants and science journals. Vandit Bhatt delivers an adorably confident Amal, the young man who lost an interview to Meaney’s Hilary at science juggernaut company, Krohl. Safiya Fredericks has a warm, caring presence as Krohl’s resident yoga instructor and lover to Miss Ross’ Ursula. Ross has all the intellectual sass and expert timing needed to deliver some of the play’s most genius quips and rants.

(Vandit Bhatt (Amal) and Stacy Ross (Ursula); Photo Credit: Kevin Berne)

Anthony Fusco, like Miss Meaney, finds balance in his temperament as a high-ranking member of Krohl management with the bouncy, relatability needed for his turn as Leo to not only befriend Hilary, but to keep the audience interested in Leo’s subtle-yet-important innermost feelings. Mike Ryan delivers a wonderful performance as Jerry, the Grand Pumbaa of Krohl, it being his “name on the building” and all. The relationship between Ryan and Carmen Steel, playing Jerry’s adopted daughter, Cathy, is a beloved father/daughter connection to see develop as Steel ages from young elementary days to sassy pre-teen.  It is the ending scene where Mr. Stoppard truly startles the audience’s minds and hearts with his culminating connection of adoption by showing how people’s attitudes differ when one believes in coincidence and one in miracles. This final revelation is eloquently staged, eloquently delivered, and one of the most stunning parts of Mr. Stoppard’s script.