The Country House

The Country House is playing at the Friedman Theatre located at 261 West 47th Street. It runs two hours and five minutes with one intermission.

Donald Margulies is the playwright. He won a Pulitzer Prize for drama in 2000 for “Dinner with Friends”. Donald received a Tony nomination in 2010 for “Time Stands Still”.

Daniel J. Sullivan is the director. He won a Tony Award in 2001 for “Proof” and a Drama Desk Award in 1972 for “Suggs”. Daniel was nominated for five Tony Awards for “Rabbit Hole” (2006), “Morning’s at Seven (2002), “The Sisters Rosensweig” (1993), “Conversations with My Father” (1992) and “The Heidi Chronicles” (1989). He has been nominated for several Drama Desk Awards.

John Lee Beatty is the scenic designer. He has won two Tony Awards for “The Nance” (2012) and “Talley’s Folly” (1980). He was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards for “Other Desert Cities” (2012), “The Royal Family” (2010), “The Color Purple” (2006), “The Rabbit Hole” (2006), “Doubt” (2005), “Dinner for Eight” (2003), “Morning’s at Seven” (2002), “The Little Foxes” (1997), “A Delicate Balance” (1996), “The Heiress” (1995), “Red Wood Container” (1993), “A Small Family” (1992) ad “Fifth of July” (1981). He has been nominated for fourteen Drama desk Awards and won four, “Twentieth Century” (2004), “Dinner for Eight” (2003), “Fifth of July” (1981) and “Talley’s Folly” (1979).

Rita Ryack is the costume designer. She has won a tony award in 1983 for “My One and Only”.

Blythe Danner has won Tony Award “Butterflies are Free” (1970) and “The Miser” (1968).

Daniel Sanjata was nominated for a Tony Award in 2003 for “Take Me Out”.

The place is in a house in the Berkshires near Williamstown, Massachusetts, summer, present.

It has been a year since Anna Paterson (Blythe Danner) daughter has died of cancer. Her granddaughter Susie Keegan (Sarah Steele) is already there. Anna has invited her son-in-law Walter (David Rasche) to visit. He brings along his new girlfriend Nell McNally (Kate Jennings Grant). Anna son Elliot (Eric Lange)is there too. To round out the guests is an actor friend Michael (Daniel Sunjata) .

The family is in the arts Anna and Nell are actresses and Walter is a director. Elliot is the least successful. He never made it as an actor and is not writing a play.

Michael is a well-known actor and ladies’ man.

Elliot is surprised to see Nell. They acted together a number of years ago. Their relationship was casual. He tells her he loved her.

Anna has invited Michael over for more than a sleep over. He turns her down.

Elliot has a reading of his play with the people in house reading different roles. It did not go over to good.

This is a touching story of a family going on with their lives after the death of a love one. Feelings and emotions come out about themselves and the people they associated with.

The set is great. The inside of the house there are different doors leading different places. When it rains you hear the thunder and see the rain coming down outside the window.

Eric Lange I touching as the son who feels his mother loved his sister more.

The cast does a great job.

This is an enjoyable show worth seeing.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich.

Photos by Annazor.

To read a candid interview with the cast, scroll down to the left for recent photos. Click on photos for this and other shows.