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"A 14-Year-Old's Problems,
But Just See Her Handle Them"
'The Summer of the Swans'
Lucille Lortel Theater
July 29, 2003
by Lawrence Van Gelder
With its latest production, "The Summer of the Swans," Theatreworks/USA once again makes outstanding theater look so easy that one wonders why every company can't achieve it.
Perhaps best of all, especially for children, this play offers something beyond excellent drama, beyond superior acting, beyond an eye-catching set and beyond just-right costumes.
That something else is this: Admission is free.
"The Summer of the Swans," written by Julia Jordan, who furnished the book for last year's fine Theatreworks adaptation of "Sarah, Plain & Tall," is based on Betsy Byars's Newberry Medal-winning 1970 children's novel of the same title.
Basically, book and play tell the story of a few days in the 14th summer of the life of Sara Godfrey, as she frets about her appearance; chafes against taking care of her developmentally disabled brother, Charlie; envies the freedom and good looks of her older sister, Wanda; and doesn't have much good to say (at least for a while) to her schoolmate and neighbor Joe Melby. She suspects him of once having taken the mute Charlie's beloved watch. In these few days Sara will learn a good deal about growing up, responsibility and love.
Two events shape the drama: the appearance of some swans on a nearby pond and the disappearance of Charlie in the night, after the self-absorbed Sara has taken him to see them.
In her praiseworthy adaptation, Ms. Jordan has pared away extraneous characters and has intensified the focus on Sara (Kate Wetherhead, who was so good in "Sarah, Plain & Tall"); Wanda (Bethany Butler), Charlie (John Lloyd Young, also from "Sarah"); their guardian, Aunt Willie (Angela Bullock); and Joe (Dustin Sullivan).
Ms. Jordan has supplied some delightfully well-observed banter and teasing for Sara and Wanda and some perceptive words of wisdom from Aunt Willie, who still has the guts to chance a ride on the handsome motorcycle (it's a motor scooter in the book), owned by Wanda's black-leather-jacketed boyfriend, Frank (Greg Shamie).
The performances, led by Ms. Wetherhead's, are uniformly excellent, and the entire production is enhanced by the impeccable direction of Joe Calarco (another alumnus of "Sarah, Plain & Tall"), the scenic design of James Wolk and the costumes of Amela Baksic.
In the company's 15th season of free summer theater, the intermissionless, hourlong "Summer of the Swans," recommended for general audiences and children 10 and older, is playing at the Lucille Lortel Theater. Tickets are available on a first come first seated basis at the theater's box office an hour before curtain time. Information: (212) 642-6754. "The Summer of the Swans" is also scheduled on Oct. 11, 12, 25 and 26 during the regular Theatreworks season, at the Auditorium at Equitable Tower in Manhattan.
Those who see this show can count themselves among the fortunate.
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