Lost in Yonkers

The real horror of the Internet becomes apparent: my review from the last time I saw "Lost in Yonkers" (April '99) is still on this page, still accessible, and like most of my reviews, still unreadable.

I looked forward to seeing "Lost in Yonkers" at Harbour Theatre because I have very fond memories of the excellent Playlovers production a few years ago (Jenny McCann's performance moved me to tears). Jo Sturkenberg as Bella didn't have quite the same effect, because I knew the plot and I knew what was coming, but Bella's scene still moved the audience and there were sniffles aplenty around the auditorium. Jo did a great job playing a difficult role, with the added encumbrance of some (intentionally) awful costumes. I thought some of them might be a little over the top, but that's just my opinion. Bella's wardrobe is supposed to be in bad taste.

Last time I saw Mavis Glewis, she was prancing around Harbour's stage delivering doggerel in "Habeas Corpus". The role of Grandma Kurnitz is about as distant as one can get (in temperament, at least) and she performed admirably - maintaining her Jewish/German accent (in my untrained ear) while some others occasionally slipped into Italian. Fred Lawson was crap - at least, that's what he told me after the show, and who am I to argue with Fred? I thought he was pretty damn good as always (bringing a bit of Northerner to the mix, too, heh heh heh) but we must respect his opinions.

A small role for Zorina Gavolovich as Gert, but another meaty character role of the sort that Zorina loves so much. Gert has trouble breathing and while Zorina did a fabulous (and difficult, when you think about it) job, some members of the audience (weaned, no doubt, on such sophistications as "Australia's Funniest Home Videos") roared with laughter EVERY time Gert opened her mouth, drowning some of the dialogue. Ah well, it can't be helped. Remaining sibling, Louie, was brought to life by John Matheson. John did an excellent job (I thought) in Harbour's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," and was similarly professional here as the small-time gangster. While I'm on this topic, I'd better say how wonderful the lights were (Louie Kurnitz has nothing on "The Fremantle Family").

However, outdoing them all were the two boys, Ethan Marrell and Ben Lowther. Absolutely no problems with diction, clarity or projection - the audience heard every single word they said. Characterisation was consistent throughout. The cheers and applause in the curtain call made it clear how much the audience appreciated the skill and hard work of these two up-and-coming actors. It's sickening how much talent is out there...

JB