Renowned playwright David Mamet says, “To find beauty in the sad, hope in the midst of loss and dignity in failure is great poetic art.”
By Mamet’s definition, Northlight Theatre’s 2013-14 season opener, the understated dramatic comedy “4000 Miles,” may be poetry indeed. This year’s Pulitzer Prize for Drama committee thinks so, naming the Amy Herzog-penned play among its three finalists for the award.
The story centers on the relationship of 21-year-old Leo (Josh Salt), who shows up unexpectedly at his 91-year-old grandmother’s Manhattan apartment following a cross-country bike trip. Over the course of a month, salty Grandma Vera (Mary Ann Thebus) and her grandson forge a new relationship as they confound, irritate and finally understand one another.
Director Kimberly Senior perfectly cast Salt and Thebus, along with Caroline Nef and Emjoy Gavino as Leo’s love and lust interests, respectively. They move through Herzog’s cross-generational magnification with ease and humor.
Indeed it’s Salt’s Leo, whose transformation allowing him to find beauty, hope and dignity in all the right places, that achieves Mamet’s poetic art. More discreetly, Thebus’ Vera does, too. But the bigger question is whether mere observers of these terrific characterizations attain the same.
National critics think they should. In addition to being named a 2013 Pulitzer finalist, in 2012, “4000 Miles” was Time magazine‘s top play, won the Obie Award for best new play and received The New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award.
Nothing in Northlight’s top flight production suggests otherwise, either. A terrific, authentic unit set and particularly effective lighting design by Christina A. Binder only complement the actors’ fine work.
All this said, prospective patrons shouldn’t expect poetic art without putting in their share of intellectual energy. “4000 Miles” is sophisticated and unassuming, requiring a fresh look at archetypal characters—the know-it-all young adult, the wise and wisecracking grandma—to earn the production’s full value.
Northlight Artistic Director BJ Jones says, “With humor and bittersweet sensibility, Amy Herzog brings two disparate generations together in an enlightening and thoughtful evening.”
Indeed she does; and her work is being done justice at Northlight.
“4000 Miles” runs through October 20 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie. Tickets cost $25-75, with a limited number of $15 tickets for students. Tickets and information are available online or by calling 847-673-6300.
Barry Reszel is a Libertyville-based writer, at-home dad and executive director of the not-for-profit entertainment company Liberty Town Productions.
