It’s not often I get the chance to make the drive out to Williamstown, MA, have a fantastic dinner, and go to the theatre. Maybe once a year, and maybe that’s why I love it so much.
Last year  it was The Last Goodbye at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. This past Tuesday, it was Three Hotels.
Numerous reasons why I loved this play.
Maura Tierney and Steven Weber. Playing wife and husband. Pushing and pulling. Loving and hating. I love watching actors I’m familiar with transcend any preconceptions I have about their past roles.
Like I’ve said before, there is something utterly transfixing about the intimacy of theatre, and this show has that power.
In addition to the relatability of the relationship, the relevancy of the corporate marketing misdeeds that have compromised both characters is a very current and real problem today. And although I came away from the play more affected by the emotional aches that each character portrayed – I think the overall theme I absorbed was loss – it was refreshing to observe writing that highlighted a current morally indefensible strategy that formula companies sidestep in the race to profitability.
The play only features the two characters, and monologues from each. One marriage, two individuals, in three hotels. In the end you can theorize the numbers all dwindle. The sets were amazing.
It was easy to sympathize with both characters, and I didn’t walk away with the ability to categorize each character in the traditional role of protagonist or antagonist. Because selling your soul to the devil, even reluctantly, is still selling your soul to the devil.
Three Hotels depicts the history of a relationship detailing intimacy, morality, anger, loss, love, compromise and death, each emotion saturating every monologue. It was quick but not rushed, raw but digestible. You laugh and you may cry, each reaction short lived as to not miss the next line. You may walk out wanting more but in the end the play perfectly mirrored the realities we deal with day to day, year to year – sometimes there are no answers, there is no closure.
In closure (ha), go see this production. The main stage is a treat, the venue is top notch and the actors really gave a great performance.
Buy your tickets here, the show only runs until July 24th.
Greg
Jul 14, 2011 at 4:19 pm
I’m so excited to see this play!