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Marriage `Dance'

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LAWRENCE KELLER

Special to the Jewish News

L

Worse, Fried's inner conflicts are
awkwardly spelled out as he dictates
them into a tape recorder before each
session. John Seibert does what he can
with the role, but he's better when
playing Michelle's father, her best
(male) friend and a sleazy lawyer in
flashbacks portrayed on stage.
While Dance Like No One's
Watching is most powerful
when it concentrates on the
deteriorating marriage, it occasionally
strains credibility. When Scott privately
confides vital information to Dr. Fried
— after the therapist has clearly warned

ike many couples, Scott and
Michelle meet in a whirl-
wind of romance — in their
case, 40,000 feet up in the
air en route to Paris.
As a flight attendant,
Michelle is forbidden to
fraternize with Scott but can't
help herself. She reads into him the
way we read into a Rorschach inkblot,
imagining a future filled not only with
nights of erotic escapades but the
happy family life she's always
dreamed about.
But a few years into the mar-
riage, Michelle is living a quite
different scenario. While she sac-
rifices her career to stay home
with their twins, Scott is climbing
the corporate ladder. She learns
that it is hard to look and feel
romantic when all her clothes are
stained with baby spit. He spends
more and more time at the office.
When the realities of matrimony
and raising children eclipse the
fantasy, the marriage becomes
Thomas Hoagland, Robin Lewis Bedz and John
shaky. But the couple refuse to give Seibert in "Dance Like No One's Watching"
up. They turn to Detroit's most
the couple he cannot speak to them
sought-after marriage counselor, Dr.
individually — it is hard to believe this
Lawrence Fried, for help.
gifted therapist would keep the couple
Playwright Kitty Dubin's insightful
new play, Dance Like No One's Watching, as clients. The play also verges near
farce with each revelation of lying, par-
currently enjoying its world premiere at
ticularly when one untruth causes
Jewish Ensemble Theatre, examines
Michelle to twitch uncontrollably.
what happens when humdrum married
The play receives a fine production
life confronts a relationship that is built
under Geoffrey Sherman's fast-paced
on false perceptions and ridiculous
direction. The transitions into and out
expectations of wedded bliss.
of memory are particularly smooth with
Dubin, a former family therapist
minimal costume and set changes,
herself, clearly knows this territory.
thanks to Monika Essen's slick, IKEA-
While Scott and Michelle may be a
inspired set that is lit well by Ron Burns.
conglomeration of the many couples
In the end, the play belongs to Bedz
she has helped over the years, they are
as Michelle. She starts as a woman on
written with great specificity and
the brink who has lived a life being
vividly brought to life by Thomas
manipulated by men. Her father, hus-
Hoagland as Scott and especially by
band, lawyer and psychologist all claim
Robin Lewis Bedz as Michelle.
to have her best interests in mind. Few
Ironically, the least compelling char-
do. She learns that, sometimes, her
acter is Dr. Fried. Too often he is left
best dance partner may be herself.
stranded to nod and react as Scott and
x:x ** (out of four)
Michelle re-create key moments in
their relationship. That may be the
reality of what happens in therapy. But
Dance Like No One's Watching
it does not always make the most
runs through June 9 at JET. $18-
compelling drama.
$28/senior and student dis-
counts. (248) 788-2900.
Lawrence Keller is a Chicago-based

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5/17

2002

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