Donald Margulies is one of the better home grown playwrights on the scene at the moment. In plays like "Dinner With Friends", "Sight Unseen" and this seasons' excellent "Time Stands Still" he has had an ability to look at the human condition thru the eyes of ordinary people,and has created a gallery of fine, lifelike characters. Now we have the first Broadway production of his twelve year old off-Broadway play COLLECTED STORIES, and while it may not be quite up to some of his later works it is still a fine play and it is being given an extrodanarily effective production by the Manhattan Theatre Club.
In it Mr. Margulies looks at the complex relationship of two female writers. One is a celebrated New York author and the other one her young protege, and the play deals with the path the relationship takes when the young author finds success on her own. Maybe this story seems a bit padded as a two act play,[I think it would have been more effective as a one act play] Mr. Margulies' talent is always evident and under the intelligently planned direction of Lynne Meadow the cast of two are giving astonishingly fine performances.
Linda Lavin is giving one of her finest performances as the experienced author and Sara Paulson is first rate as her young protege.
Santo Loquastos' scenic design and Natasha Katz' lighting serve their purpose capably and Jane Greenwoods' costumes are just right.
COLLECTED STORIES may not be a play for the ages, but it shows Mr. Margulies in fine form and helped by his two talented actresses, it provides a fine theatre evening.
AT THE SAMUEL J. FRIEDMAN THEATRE 261 WEST 47th STREET N.Y.C.
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