Listen & Be Heard Weekly Archives

Valentine’s Day approaches upon this week. Naturally, everyone tries to celebrate their relationship. Or perhaps, couples entertain the thought of evaluating their relationship. In the contemporary one act musical, “In This House,” a young newlywed couple find themselves taking refuge with an older couple on New Year’s Eve. The older couple make their annual return to their former home, where once they planned their dreams. Their little sweet abode stands on a lonely country road. The young couple’s car just happens to run askew into a stone wall near the house. Is it coincidence or by chance that they find themselves celebrating the New Year with the older couple? The couples exchange their stories, share their frustrations, and find some resolution as the evening brings in another year.

Lois Grandi, founder of the Playhouse West, directs a moving production of “In The House” at the company’s small venue in Walnut Creek. The score, composed by Grammy Award winner Mike Reid, is finely accentuated with a live pianist. The music has some familiarity with Sondheim and George Winston. Very contemporary, it reminded me of the very popular musical, “The Last Five Years,” which also explores today’s relationship issues. Lyricists Sarah Schlesinger and Jonathan Bernstein have completed a realistic, yet poetic script. The scenes are disturbing. The characters’ lines strike many personal chords.

The older couple, Henry and Luisa Arden (Michael Harrington and Gretchen Grant) welcome
the stranded Johnny D’Amato (Darren Glesser) and his wife, Annie (Lynda DiVito) to spend New Year’s Eve at their old home. They drink from an old canteen of bourbon, which Henry finds in the shed. The two men bond over lost glory of baseball. They commiserate over misunderstandings between themselves and their wives. Likewise, the women reflect over the challenges to keep a relationship together. In other moments, all four debate, laugh, and weep with each other.

Harrington’s strong performance as the older husband carries genuine warmth. The vocal narration of his stories are just as inviting as his robust singing. The audience could relate to Grant’s portrayal of the older wife. We can see her need to mend the past. She demonstrates her motherly concern for the younger couple. DiVito’s eyes and voice are equally riveting in her performance. As the Jewish and compassionate traveling nurse, DiVito carries her role with conviction. Glesser plays the younger husband with much depth. His voice successfully hits the most difficult notes of the score. When he performs with the more mature Harrington, the scenes are personal and connecting.

Set designer, Jan Zimmerman, aptly fits the charming country house into the small theatre space. The characters are completed with the costume design of Krista Nelson. The production’s contemporary aspects resonate the modern complexity of relationships. The professional caliber of the Playhouse West draws charm and truth to the story.

The most touching moment of the production is the ending. I would spoil the story’s magic, if I were to detail it fully. Yet, I can say that it illustrates hope in love. It can endear anything, even time itself.

In This House
runs until March 2
Playhouse West
1345 Locust Street, Walnut Creek
www.playhousewest.org
Tickets $26-30
925-942-0300