Danny and the
Deep Blue Seas
Written by John Patrick Shanley
Directed by K. Hannah Friedman
at Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport (map)
thru April 28 | tickets: $28 | more info
Check for half-price tickets
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An unexpected love story between two unlikely suspects
Kokandy Productions presents
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea
Review by Anuja Vaidya
For a play that opens in a dingy bar with two clearly disturbed people, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea ends up being surprisingly sweet and optimistic. It has a raw, emotional core that you discover slowly, as the abrasive outer layers of these two troubled individuals melt away. Even though it takes a while for the show to warm up and find its groove, it ultimately gives us a compelling exploration of forgiveness, love and
This play by John Patrick Shanley (best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning Doubt) is, essentially, a love story, albeit an unusual one. About halfway through the play you realize that you are rooting for the characters without realizing it. At the opening, they are defensive, putting on brave fronts, quick to take the bait and lash out. Danny meets Roberta at the local bar. They quickly ascertain that they are both "messed up" and bond over that fact. Roberta convinces him to come home with her. As the night continues, what seemed like a desperate attempt to "connect" (that is, hook-up) turns into a night of true connection. Insecurities, broken dreams and intimate desires are professed, and it appears as though the two are kindred spirits.
Despite the uplifting ending, the first act the play left me feeling cold. The premise felt trite, of the "two-strangers-meet-in-a-bar-and-discuss-life" variety. It felt haphazard and the moment when Roberta suggests that Danny come home with her seems to come out of nowhere. I found it hard to believe in both the situation and the characters. Initially, there is a sense that the characters are talking to each other and doing what they are doing only because they have nothing else to do. In fact, Roberta says as much. Every action seems to be a result of boredom, and hence, nothing they say quite rings true. Which is why when Roberta comforts Danny and suggests that he come home with her, it seems like a sudden moment of honesty that is out-of-place.
Things turns around dramatically, however. The actors bring a level of honesty into their performances that the opening lacks, completely changing the tone about halfway through the play, which is a tricky thing to accomplish. We see that they are just lost souls looking for someone to love them. Through this change of tone, the play addresses the notion of whether people who do less than admirable things are entitled to love and to feel good about themselves without making the dialog feel heavy handed.
Brandon Galatz and Jodi Kingsley both give skilled and nuanced performances, and have wonderful chemistry with each other. Kingsley, in particular, is outstanding. Her portrayal of her character’s vulnerability and simple desires is so endearing that it is heart wrenching. We soon find out that that she is her own worst enemy; intent on punishing herself for doing a "bad thing". One of the most touching moments in the play is when Danny forgives her because he sees that she is struggling to forgive herself. The intensity in both their performances is on point, not too much and not too little. Kudos to Kingsley and Galatz for pulling this off.
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea almost feels like a vignette that lasts for an hour and a half. What seems to start as a brief, meaningless encounter between two strangers, morphs beautifully into an exchange of honest compassion for a fellow human being. Danny is a quiet reminder that everyone, no matter what we’ve done, is just looking for love and companionship – but before you can truly fall in love with someone else, you need to be at peace with yourself.
Rating: ★★★
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea continues through April 28th at Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays 2m. Tickets are $28, and are available by phone (773-935-6875) or online through OvationTix.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at KokandyProductions.com. (Running time: 1 hour 20 minutes, no intermission)
Photos by Joshua Albanese
artists
cast
Brandon Galatz (Danny); Jodi Kingsley (Roberta)
behind the scenes
K. Hannah Friedman (director), Skye Geerts (costumes), Zachary Gipson (set designer, master carpenter), Ryan Bourque (fight choreographer), Jeffrey Levin (sound design), Kristin Davis (stage manager), Mac Vaughey (lighting), Danny Osburn (asst. lighting, master electrician), Joshua Albanese Photography (photos)
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