A Review of Apartment 3A

Riverside - To begin, I must say TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES, PEOPLE.

Not once, not twice, but three times was the Friday night performance of Apartment 3A at Riverside Theatre interrupted by the grating chimes of the wireless albatrosses.

I noticed the absence of any kind of curtain speech, and I think this may have contributed to the problem. I understand the desire to treat the audience like grown ups, but it seems that a personal reminder is still necessary. A small note on page four of the program did not suffice. But I digress.

If we ignore the fact that I was harangued by ring tones and somewhere in the evening I lost my wallet, the show itself provided for an entertaining night out. And that’s what you’re really wanting to know, after all.

I was skeptical about seeing a show written by Jeff Daniels. The same Jeff Daniels, I wondered, whose filmography includes such gems as Dumb and Dumber, Supersucker, and the soon-to-be released summer movie entitled Space Chimps? The guy on TV begging corporations to open branches in Michigan? It didn’t bode well.

Neither did the first 30 minutes or so of the show. I am not a fan of facial expressions and gestures that look overly planned and bigger than life unless I’m watching a full-blown farce that would call for such broad strokes. This was not such a script, and I found the overly choreographed body language distracting and off-putting. Combine this with a strangely written tirade about the many ways in which Big Bird might die, and I’m checking out for the evening.

I had pretty much given up; then something happened. The female lead, Annie (played by Elena Passarello), had lunch with an ardent and endearingly nerdy admirer, Elliott (played by Jim Kropa). Their conversation unexpectedly turned to a debate about God’s existence, and, suddenly, I could completely forget I was watching “Acting” and just relate to these people and their struggle for meaning in life. The script itself became less gimmicky and more character-driven, and Jim Kropa delivered a speech about Elliott losing his parents at an early age with such honesty and simplicity that it brought me to tears. Annie and Elliott shared a delightful kiss, then intermission.

I came back to the second act with my hopes raised, and I was not disappointed, which is good, because finding hope in a seemingly hopeless world was a major theme of the show. How ironic. Or maybe not. Jeff Daniels, perhaps you are cleverer than I thought.

In the second half of the show, we get to see the humanity behind Elliott’s nerdy glasses as he embarks with his true love on an emotional roller coaster. We also get to learn more about Annie’s motivations, hopes and fears. The characters are, overall, more real, more human and more interesting to watch.

Tim Budd (who plays Annie’s confidante, Donald) flawlessly delivers a moving speech about finding the talent to paint his beloved wife, an event he interprets as a miracle. This is one of many really nice moments in what is ultimately a romantic comedy with a bit of a twist.

The play soon reveals a somewhat transparent “surprise” ending, but it doesn’t matter if you see it coming or not. It hits you. By this time, the performances are engaging and the characters are compelling.

I set my hopes and my standards high for a Riverside show. And, at least in the end, these hopes were rewarded. This is an engaging production of what felt like a bit of an uneven script. And even if I left the theatre without my wallet that night, I did have a bit of a cry, some chuckles and a little food for thought.

A night at the theatre that can make you laugh, cry and ponder where it is in your life that you find hope is well worth the time. Cheers to Jeff Daniels and the folks at Riverside! Get your tickets soon because a few of the performances are already sold out.

And now, my own surprise ending: Riverside rescued my wallet. Thanks, Nan Martin!

--Vicki Krajewski

Vicki Krajewski has acted and directed with theatre companies in Chicago and Iowa including the Prairie Center for the Arts, Sandcastle Productions, Dreamwell, Catalyst, Iowa City Community Theatre and City Circle. Several of her short plays and monologues have been produced in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. Along with her performance pieces, she does occasional newspaper reporting, freelance feature writing, technical writing, personal essays and even some poetry.

Apartment 3A opens tomorrow

Riverside - Riverside Theatre will open Apartment 3A, written by actor turned playwright Jeff Daniels, tomorrow night.

Annie Wilson has lost her faith – faith in God, men and even (gasp!) PBS. A Director of Fundraising for Public Television, Annie has just moved into a new apartment after a failed relationship with an unfaithful lover. Licking her wounds, she is quickly introduced to the quirky characters in her building: Donald, her mysterious neighbor, and Dal, her nosy landlord. Complicating her personal life, there’s Elliott, an overly earnest and sweet co-worker who is madly in love with Annie, and Tony, another wacky co-worker. As Annie navigates her way through a new phase in her personal and professional life, Daniels’ flair for fast one-liners and hilarious physical comedy shines through these eccentric characters. Apartment 3A is a sweet feel-good comedy about love and romance – with a twist no one can see coming!

Elena Passarello will play the leading role of Annie. Recent local roles have included Riverside’s Walking the Wire (2006), two seasons with Iowa Summer Repertory Theatre, and Liars Radio Theatre. Fighting for the role as Annie’s leading man are Tim Budd (Donald) and Jim Kropa (Elliott). Budd has been seen in numerous roles at Riverside, including the Fool in King Lear (2007) and Father Flynn in Doubt (2008). Jim Kropa of Cedar Rapids recently appeared at Riverside in the 2006 production of Death of a Salesman. Rounding out the cast are Jason Grubbe as Dal and David Morton as Tony.

Riverside Theatre will offer a Date Night package for the performances of Apartment 3A on March 29, April 5 and April 12. This package will include 15% off two adult tickets and a coupon for 15% off dinner at 126, Devotay and Takanami. A limited number of packages are available. For detailed information or to purchase a Date Night package, call the Riverside Theatre box office at (319) 338-7672.

For more information, go here.

(Photo by Bob Goodfellow.)

Auditions for 3A and Shakespeare

Riverside - Riverside Theatre will hold auditions for the spring production of Apartment 3A and the 2008 Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival on Saturday, December 1st, 2007. Auditions will be held at 213 N. Gilbert St. Actors may audition for one or both opportunities. To schedule an audition, call the Riverside Theatre box office at (319) 338-7672.

Jeff Daniels’ romantic comedy Apartment 3A, directed by Ron Clark, will run March 27 – April 13, 2008. There are roles for three men, ages 30s-60, non-Equity only. Auditions requirements: P/R, one contemporary monologue, 1-2 minutes.

The 2008 Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival will employ a full time, professional company, both Equity and non-Equity actors. All actors will be cast in both shows and will also understudy. Rehearsals begin May 13. The productions play in repertory through July 13, a nine week contract. Audition requirements: P/R, two contrasting monologues (one classical and one contemporary), 3 minutes maximum.

For more information about audition opportunities or to schedule an audition, please call (319) 338-7672 or go here.