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(clockwise from left:)Sarah Painter, Jon Fine, Rebecca Williams, Wes Nielsen, Karen Garrett. Morgan Williams, and Jennah Downs, pose on the set of ABET's May 9-24 production of Gillian on Her 37th Birthday by Michael Brady. Under the direction of Carson Merry Baillie, this play was originally off -Broadway with the role of Rachel taken by Sarah Jessica Parker. (Scenic design by Rebecca Williams)
TO GILLIAN ON HER 37th BIRTHDAY
ABET THEATRE REVIEW
by dick kerekes    dickkerekes@yahoo.com

      The Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre (ABET) opened its final show of the season May 9th, with Michael Brady's award nominated play To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday. It will run through May 24 at the Adele Garage Cultural Center in Atlantic Beach Florida. Call 249-7177 for information and reservations.
      This play debuted Off Broadway in l985, and was made into a movie in l996. The subject matter of this well written script is rather timeless and certainly of interest to today's audiences.
      This is the story of David, a widower who is living in a beach house on an island, where two years ago his wife Gillian died in a boating accident. A former college professor, he quit his job when an insurance settlement allowed him to live full time on the island, He watches TV ten hours a day, jogs, and hangs out with his neighbor's teenage daughter Cindy. His continuous grieving over Gillian has him withdrawn from everything else including Rachel, his teenage daughter. Esther, his wife's surviving sister and her husband Paul have conceived a plan to bring him back to reality. They come visiting for the weekend, along one of his former female students from a dozen years ago. She happens to be recently divorced and is looking. The weekend they have chosen to visit David just happens to be the anniversary of Gillian's death and 37th birthday.
      If you read no further let me tell you the play is very interesting, with excellent dialogue and even spurts of humor, and an outstanding cast. I highly recommend you see this show.
      The play is directed by one of ABET's founders, Carson Merry Baillie. Her remarkable stage directions and casting capture the essence and purpose of this play and you will leave the theatre feeling good about what you have seen.
      Wesley Nielsen plays the leading role, David and is superb. It was only a few short years ago he took a drama workshop at ABET, and he has done many fine roles. Last year he was a detective in Pillowman and outstanding but he is even better as David displaying a range of varied emotions that he makes so believable to us in the audience.
      When David becomes very depressed and lonely, he "talks" with Gillian's apparition (ok, ghost, if you want to be less fancy). Rebecca Williams is splendid as Gillian. Ms. Williams was very active in musical theatre some years ago at Theatre Jacksonville, but in recent years has turned to art as her means of expression and she frequently contributes her painting talents to community theatre. The very realistic sea shore background will have you reaching for the sun tan oil.
      Esther, David's psychiatrist sister in law, features the very popular and talented Karen Garrett, who challenges David to come back to life. Her husband, Paul (Joe Fine) is a wise cracking but still concerned friend. His role gives comic relief to the play and certainly much of the humor.
      Two Douglas Anderson students play the two teenagers, and the DASOTA program should be proud of them, as both turn in excellent performances. Morgan Williams plays the daughter Rachel, a complex role of being a teenager who witnessed her mother's death and now has to cope with a grieving father. Jennah Downs is the hot to trot Cindy, the teen neighbor who has a crush on David. Ms. Downs is also impressive in this role.
      If you are a fan of movie star Sandra Bullock, are you going love Sarah Painter who a dead ringer for Ms. Bullock and could be her twin sister. She plays the blind date that Esther has brought along to lure David back into the real world. In the play her name is Kevin and she explains that her father wanted a boy. Ms. Painter brings some impressive credits from Pennsylvania performances, but good news is she lives here now and this is her theatre debut.
      The set designed by Director Baillie and Ms. Williams is one of their best ever. The back deck of an old shingle island home, it features a real beach with real sand. I loved the slapping sound of the back screen door that even squeaks because it needs oiling. Bryan Frank's sound design features waves and sea gulls that were realistic. Spencer Frank's lighting design created some special lighting (ghost like) when Gillian appeared that was very effective.
      Don't miss this show. It has a good script, good cast, good direction, and a good set.



Article Published in the May 2008 Issue of EU Jacksonville

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