The blue-carpeted stage is bare, with a multi-level apron extending to the first row. Narrow vertical panels suspended from the flies will slide in from the wings, at various depths, to define the playing area. Projections will illuminate the panels and the backdrop. The theater and stage darken and the cast of 11 enter, forming a wedding party. The stage lights come up, loves and hours [sic] has begun. This is not only Stephen Metcalfe's play title, it is a wonderful, humorous/serious exploration into what love is all about and those many hours we devote to love. And, as commented by character Dan Tilney in Act Two, the hours go by faster with every passing year.
As scenic and costume designer Robert Morgan's panels move on-stage and David F. Segal's lighting further limits the active stage, the ensemble cast take us through the broadest of possible definitions of love. Brian Kerwin, as Dan Tilney, speaks. The opening wedding is between a 50-something male and his 25-year-old bride. Tilney, not quite 50, falls into a similar situation, while maintaining a friendship with a woman close to his age. His wife has divorced him for her female lover. His 20-something daughter falls for a man just past 40. His son gets seriously involved with a neighbor woman, about Dan's age. Oh, there's much more.
This could all be tawdry, but under the skillful pen of Metcalfe, under the deft staging of Jack O'Brien, and performed by this excellent cast, love and hours is a loving opus to that very wonderful feeling and experience called love. It is romantic and bespeaks of experiences most of us have felt at some point in our life.
The tale is told through a vast number of vignettes following the tales of spousal relationships, parent-child relationships, and the most difficult of all, the man-and-woman-in-love relationships. Kerwin comments on the others as well as himself. His character is charmed by his young lover, played by Bridget Flanery; yet he continues to build a relationship (though not realizing it) with his contemporary, Anne, played by Monique Fowler.
One phrase in the dialogue best expresses that feeling of love as that something "warmer within" and we simply have to express ourselves. Alas, as the play rolls on, we find that expressing ourselves becomes quite difficult and can have traumatic effects on us and others around us.
Loves and hours is a wonderful exploration into relationships. I hope you have a chance to enjoy the trip.
