Birthday Candles "A Rebel Against the Universe"
"Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle brings a unique play to the Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre. Much like A.R. Gurney's "The Dining Room" it interchanges both stories and characters quickly (a bell rings to change the storyline). In a nifty set of a kitchen and above the stage, all the reminiscent things of raising children replete with soccer balls, tricycles and globes hang down so that we can see the life of this family.
Under Vivienne Benesh's direction we get over 90 years of Ernestine Ashworth's (Debra Messing) life, and the pace is fast, very fast. Benesch makes the emotional scenes very melancholy; the comedy in this play she still makes due even though Haidle could have went with less of it, or at least have illuminated the "cosmic" feelings of most of the cast.
Debra Messing is sensational as a woman who begins asking about her insignificance in the world. At 17 she wants to leave Grand Rapids, Michigan as soon as possible, at 18 she has lost her mother. She questions her mother and in turn will be questioned later on in life by her own children. Under Haidle's writing we never get a real sense if Ernestine is a free spirit or if she is just flaky at times. In dealing with life's ups and downs she takes things in comic stride. In death Ernestine is strong against the current, she has seen plenty of it : her mother, her daughter and ex-husband, here Benesch should have had more emotion in Messing's character. When her daughter is very sick is the first and only time we see her cry; with her mother's death and her ex- husband's death she was emotionless.
While Toni-Leslie Jones costumes are uneventful, Jen Schriever's lighting is excellent. The blend of colors she uses gives this Roundabout production an upbeat feeling. John Gramada's sound design too helps this show move along as he gives it a lite and easy feel. The casting by Carrie Gardner is uneven in that we get a terrific Enrico Colantoni as Kenneth and a versatile Susannah Flood(Madeline/Alice/Ernie). Crystal Finn also turns in a stellar performance as (Joan/Alex/ Beth). John Earl Jelks, however, is one dimensional as Matt and William; where he over acts his roles, Christopher Livingston as Billy and John is monotone and lifeless in both roles..
Noah Haidle is able to strike the drama in "Candles", it is the comedy part that eschews this play from being great. Fortunately, Debra Messing takes the audience through a century of love, heartache and pain with a nuance that is masterful to watch. With a mostly strong backing cast, "Birthday Candles" is worth seeing even with its few short comings.
