Pulitzer Prize-winning play comes to Long Beach

PLAY REVIEW

By Holly Watson, On-line Forty-Niner

July 16,1998

Theater lovers, history buffs and romantic-realists will enjoy the latest International City Theater dramatic production to hit Long Beach Center Theater adjacent to the Terrace Theater at 300 E. Ocean Avenue in downtown Long Beach.

"Talley's Folly" is the name of this well-executed production which runs Thursday to Sunday through July 19.

This two-person spoken serenade, set on a Missouri dock during World War II, is packed with witty repartee, fascinating historical references and enticing romantic angst.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning play, written by Lanford Wilson, is produced and directed by International City Theater's critically acclaimed, Shashin Desai, and features Jennifer Parsons as Sally Talley and Robert Silver as Matt Friedman.

Convincingly, Parsons and Silver portray star-crossed romantic hopefuls.

Parsons portrays the quasi-temperamental Missouri belle with easy on the eye red-head appeal and an enchanting accent; Silver plays the idiosyncratic East Coast banker of German-Jewish decent. "Judd Hersh played this role in 1980 when the show received its Pulitzer Prize," Publicist Lucy Pollack said.

The story line mixes the melancholy with the wonderful, celebrating the discovery that there is someone in the world for everyone to ease life's sorrow and heighten life's joy.

Almost a tearjerker, "Talley's Folly" leaves one feeling warm and nourished. It is a fascinating realistic romantic tale set in a fascinating time.

"Lanford Wilson has the ability to paint real people with humor and compassion," Shashin Desai said.

For more information, one may call the International City Theater at (562) 938-4128.