Lee Blessing’s play, given yet another revival after many past productions, this time by the Barrow Group, doesn’t get dated. That’s because whatever the political permutations of the moment, the United States and Russia are locked in a never-ending armaments race, as recently evidenced by Russia demonstrating missiles that can hit Florida. The fate of the world remains at stake.
Thus, when an American negotiator and a Russian negotiator meet informally over an extended period on a mountain slope outside Geneva in 1983, their discussions resonate today in the dialogue provided by Blessing. The Russian in particular tries to cement a friendship, although the American wants to press more for agreement than friendship. The Russian is fatalistic, realizing that no matter what agreements they might make, there will be the same old same old among the two countries. Meanwhile, much of their banter is entertaining.
In this revival K. Lorrel Manning convincingly plays Honeyman, the American, and Martin Van Treuren is Botvinnik, the Russian. Both act effectively overall, although there is nothing about Van Treuren to indicate that he is Russian. He comes across more of a Brit with his speech and demeanor and that is problematic.
I wasn’t looking for any clichéd attempt at a Russian accent. However, in a 2014 production in which the Russian was played as a woman by Kathleen Chalfant, she memorably provided a very believable effect as a Russian, and that made for more realism.
After a while one can better accept Van Treuren because he otherwise an excellent actor, and director Donna Jean Fogel keeps up the play’s intensity. Always lurking is the topicality.
Edward T. Morris has a simple set design for the small theater—a rectangle of painted trees as background on stage, with trees also painted on the sides of the theater, and a circular playing area mid-stage. The actors also make use of the aisles at times.
Would that Blessing’s play became obsolete in the face of nuclear disarming. Alas, that is not about to happen. At the Barrow Group, 312 West 36th Street. Phone: 212-760-2615. Reviewed April 3, 2018.