SNAKEBIT
My complaint with these plays is not that the authors try so hard to keep the audience laughing, it’s that they, like so many contemporary playwrights, seem to believe it’s not enough to just entertain. They feel compelled to add a spoonful of medicine to relieve any latent puritanical anxiety the audience might have about spending an evening at the theater.
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Grant’s character development is far subtler than this quick summary might suggest–even the instantly unlikeable Jonathan is allowed to show his tender side. Grant has also peppered his play with witty lines, all tightly bound to the plot. For example, when Michael cracks wise about the story lines of 19th-century ballets, Jennifer says, “Which one is about the rich guy and the peasant girl?” Michael replies, “All of them”–indirectly communicating why he gave up dancing in favor of social work.
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): photo/Liz Lauren.
