I’ve been following the experimental company Talking Band (15 Obie Awards) for years. You never know what you’re going to get, but it’s always worth the trip. This imaginative play is successful on every front. It’s beautifully, sympathetically written. The “score” of music and Bobby McFerrin-like sounds works organically with buoyant choreographed movement. (The company is known for this symbiosis.) Acting and direction are superb. You’ll smile. A lot. GO.
Now in their late fifties and sixties, five women attended the progressive Lemon Elementary School together. These days they meet every Tuesday at Solo Coffee Shop which has unfortunately been discovered by trendy young people. (Background sounds by Tyler Kieffer and distorted black and white video by Anna Kiraly indicate hub-bub without interfering.) Nivea (Patrena Murray) is an historian, Pinny (Louise Smith) a social worker, Lorca (Ellen Maddow) a retired civil servant, Topo (Lizzie Olesker) well, we’re not really sure, but she composes wry little songs which everyone intermittently sings. The fifth member of the group Fran, a painter, died recently.
The ladies are miffed that their usual table is occupied. Sid Spitz (the ever appealing Jack Wetherall) is a librarian at The Fashion Institute of Technology. He genially offers to share his table, but the group just take chairs. A conversation between them ensues followed seemingly spontaneously by one of Lorca’s songs which starts: When they are young/and there’s a line/ what is it for?/usually shoes… and ends: What is nature’s/grand design/if you are young/ You stand in line.
Sid is enchanted with the women’s creativity and oversells a free performance art workshop – sponsored by Art for The Artless – he leads in a local rec center basement. The four agree to attend. He’s delighted. When everyone leaves, however, Lorca stays behind to tell Sid that none of them will be there. Apparently, the group was taught as girls not to hurt anyone’s feelings, so they lie. Sid is devastated. He’ll lose the program without a class. Lo and behold, they all show up.
Every step in the rec center causes a sticking sound as if walking on and pulling up gum. Sitting in chairs, the four rhythmically raise and lower their feet like kids discovering a new musical toy. Smells remind the group of Play-Doh, canned peas, and orange slices: “Mrs. Smiles’ classroom.” Sid then starts them off: “And stretch and stretch, and wiggle wiggle wiggle. And strike and left right wiggle wiggle pose. And hold it, hold it, hold it … and stretch, strike, bend and bend forward, forward, back, back…” He moves like a dancer; the ladies like older women who are surprised at their bodies. It’s perfect.
We observe workshops over time. (Sean Donovan’s choreography is inspired. There’s nothing women of a certain age and lack of fitness can’t execute. Limbs are employed with quirky ingenuity and slow grace.) Some of this is synchronized, some expressive solos. The group gradually grows more uninhibited and enthused. “Walk. Use your arms. Stop and float. The floor is sand. Your feet are hands…” Sid says. “Scoot and spin…do something as long as it feels right and leave when you feel ready,” he instructs.
Pinny (Louise Smith), Lorca (Ellen Maddow), Sid (Jack Wetherall,), Nivea (Patrena Murray) Photo by Craig Lowy
Along the way, we learn a bit about the women’s lives, a bit about Sid’s, and are treated to several of Lorca’s silly songs. (No one has a professional singing voice.) The Lemon Girls become a cohesive group working towards public performance. (Not a moment is unrealistic.) Pinny is afraid they’re being set up to be made fun of.
When Sid is told he must have at least one more attendee to keep funding, Nivea volunteers Fran, a ruse successfully kept up for some time. In fact, Fran begins to make appearances.
The play is not a “dance performance.” It’s NOT saccharine. Nor is it in any way accessible solely to an audience of older women. It’s a sensitive portrayal of rediscovering something vital many forget with age or distraction.
Paul Zimet’s direction is superb. Everyone on stage appears guileless, every bit of theatrical business fits characterization. Reactions are sure, but understated. We know these people. They’re real.
Kiki Smith’s costumes are age appropriate and, for the final act, just whimsical enough to remain credible.
Opening Photo by Andrew Bisdale: Lorca (Ellen Maddow), Topo (Lizzie Olesker), Sid (Jack Wetherall) Pinny (Louise Smith) Nivea (Patrina Murray)
La Mama 60 in Association with Talking Band presents
The Lemon Girls
Written and Composed by Ellen Maddow
Directed by Paul Zimet
La Mama downstairs
66 East 4th Street
Through March 27, 2022
