arts & entertainment
The Model Apartment
FOR MORE INFORMATION CAtt
1488,712-9655
oR SiT ISTUbbs.com
Chris Jakob, Laurel Hufano and Trudy
Mason in The Model Apartment
Thomas Mahard and Christina Flynn
at the JET Theatre
NM NMI MI NMI MIMI 11•III NMI 11111111
Ronelle Grier
Contributing Writer
Off
A Family Diner
Serving Breakfast, Lunch St Dinner
T
any bill $18 or more
(248) 682-3400
4170 Orchard Lake Rd.
(w/coupon only)
▪
(near Pontiac Trail)
Exp. 6/1/11
=Mt UM UM MINI Mill IN=
REVIEW
Orchard Lake, MI 48323
Monday - Sunday
Tarn - 10pm
A BA STIA
i
✓
New
Location
Mediterranean cuisine
HOURS: MON• SAT I I AM-8PM
•CLOSED SUNDAY*
*(On Sunday Catering Orders
Available $200 or More)
I 2 0 % OFF
TOTAL BILL
I
Carry-out
Catering
for your
every occasion
10-500 people
-Free Delivery-
I
'
I
-I
Coupon expires July 2, 2011
=. mi. ... .... ■ . ... im. ...
r
Buy I Dinner
1
Get 2nd 60% OFF ;
Dinner Menu 4 pm-Close
I
Coupon expires July 2, 2011
FREE
DESSERT
With a purchase of $5.00 or MORE •
with this coupon
Homemade Cooking
Award-winning Chef
Large selection of
Vegetarian Cuisine
Maher Shakarna
Owner-former Chef
Anita's Kitchen
Farmington Hills only
.1
u■kgY 249: 1
Special
Packages for
Pharmaceutical
Reps.
15650 W. I I Mile Rd. Southfield • 248-552-8100
16715201
-
- VII/ I
I
PRIC E D
ALL-YOU-CAN EAT PACKAGES
SPECIALLY
%)
C11
$2 OffAny Party Tray
Offer not valid with any other coupon/discount.
One coupon per person, per table
Expires 6/12/11
JN
• 'are
Offer not valid with any other coupon/discount.
One coupon per person, per table
Expires 6/12/11
JN
CARRY-OUT PASTA, SALAD,
VEGGIE PARTY TRAYS i
Now Offering IP--
DETROITSOMINAL
Try our
Nevi/
1r It! _21—
GLUTEN-FREE - Aulu-Gram
SQUARE. PIZZA
crust
A timer crust featuzing 9 gains
'One of the 25 Best Pizza Spots in the U.S."
FOOD&WINE
Inspiration served daily
31646 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills ph: 248.855.4600 fax: 248.855.3849
Detroit • Warren • Livonia • Dearborn • Pointe Plaza • Auburn Hills • Royal Oak • Bloomfield Hills
122 May 19 •
2011
her parents to Florida in a car stolen
by her mentally challenged boyfriend,
Neil (Chris Jakob).
he Model Apartment, Jewish
Under the direction of Lavinia Hart,
Ensemble Theatre's last pro-
the acting is among the best I have
duction of the season, has
seen on the JET stage. This is espe-
been described as a dark comedy. I
cially true of Hufano, who literally and
disagree. The 80-minute
figuratively dominates the
play by Donald Margulies
show from the moment she
is far too edgy and intense
bursts onto the stage in a
to recede into darkness, and
cacophony of bright cloth-
I found nothing funny in its stark por-
ing and manic chatter. Not only is she
trayal of the ravaging effects of mental
physically large, but she also expresses
illness and the Holocaust on an aging
her pain and her madness so vividly
Jewish couple on the verge of a new life
that it felt like I was inside her head,
under the Florida sun. But however it
seeing her demons and hearing their
is described, this is a play worth seeing, voices.
even if it is not always easy to watch.
Mason and Mahard do an admira-
Max (Tom Mahard) and Lola (Trudy ble job of playing off Hufano's energy
Mason) have been dreaming of a
without getting overshadowed by it.
peaceful existence in their new condo- Mason's portrayal of a mother who
minium, a dream that begins to dis-
realizes she cannot be carefree while
solve when they arrive and learn that
her daughter is suffering is heartrend-
they will be staying temporarily in a
ing, and Mahard's facial expressions
model apartment because their unit
and hand gestures convey his frustra-
is not ready as promised. The couple
tion and agony as effectively as his
tries to make the best of the unexpect- spoken lines.
ed and rather nondescript quarters,
Jakob is excellent in the role of Neil,
until they discover that the television
the homeless and mentally impaired
and refrigerator are just for show and
young man who was wandering the
the candlesticks and other decorative
streets of New York before finding
accessories are bolted to the tables
physical and emotional refuge with
they are intended to adorn.
Debbie.
It soon becomes evident that,
Christina Flynn portrays the ethe-
despite their gaudy tropical clothing,
real Deborah, the star of Max's tor-
Max and Lola are not typical New
tured dreams, the impossibly sweet
Yorkers in search of quieter surround- and beautiful daughter who was killed
ings and year-round sunshine. Clearly
during the Holocaust while Max was
these two people are haunted — indi-
hiding in the woods.
vidually, by the horrors each endured
The production is enhanced by
during World War II and, together, by
designers Sarah Tanner (set), Diane
a mysterious someone they have left
Ulseth (properties), Christa Koerner
behind.
(costumes), Jon Weaver (sound) and
The "someone" is their obese and
Donald Robert Fox (lighting), who
mentally ill daughter, Debbie (Laurel
provide a background that comple-
Hufano), who shows up after following ments the powerful performances.
JET presents The Model Apartment through June 5. Performances are
7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 6:30 p.m.
Sundays, with a 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, matinee. Tickets: $41, with
student and senior discounts available. (248) 788-2900; jettheatre.org .