THREE FLAT WALKUP
The problem seems to be that O’Reilly, Magnus, and Magnus haven’t come to a consensus on exactly what this play is all about. Initially, it seems to be an antigentrification play (an appropriate subject given that Curious has to vacate its storefront space on North Avenue because the landlord suddenly raised the rent by $300 a month). Mark Comiskey plays Felch, a lecherous beat generation boho who has gone blind and wants to use his compensation money to rehab a dilapidated, rat-infested three-flat. Felch lusts after anything, from old buildings to money to poetry to sex with either sex. As Felch puts it, he was walking along when suddenly the building spoke in a ghostlike voice, “Rehab me! Rehab me! I’m this darling little waif of a three-flat.”
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One hopes that in the second act these characters will do more. But two new characters are introduced: lovers Train (Dana Worland) and Sidewalk (Colm O’Reilly). Together they explore the inner depths of their souls. Nevertheless, they have nothing more to do with the action of this play than with the price of tea in China. Five monologues move the play forward. So, fundamentally, in the second act the characters don’t really do anything. They talk about something that was done. And they talk about it in that rich Curious language. You could say the overall effect is like bingeing on flourless chocolate cake. Sure, the first piece is delightful, but each following piece seems heavier and less satisfying–even though the quality hasn’t changed.
