JUMP
nytheatre.com review by John Jordan
August 15, 2002
Jump is an extraordinary play.
According to playwright Jess Lacher, it is about "fear of loneliness,
fear of maturing and assuming responsibility for your life." Director
Maureen Towey characterizes the piece as "dark but funny, quirky and
delicate." Both are absolutely right. The script is phenomenal. The
direction is superb. The staging, the set, the lighting, the sound all
work flawlessly together to create a fine piece of theatre. I refuse to give away much regarding the plot, as I left the theatre with a The Sixth Sense/The Others/The Crying Game don’t-give-away-any-secrets type of feeling. Damn good play. Jess Lacher is brilliant.
Jump is brought to us by the delicious theater group, which is comprised entirely of recent graduates of Northwestern University. I have been hearing good things about the theatre program there. Now, I concur.
As for the actors, I will not be able to say enough in the space allocated about Laura Grey as Jane, the troubled woman who, while preparing to make pancakes one day, has an unexpected suicidal visitor fall through her ceiling. If Mary Tyler Moore and Ally McBeal were to have a love child, it would be Grey. She is simply outstanding. She brings this fascinating character to life and touches every emotion with impeccable results. I have no doubt that the world will be seeing a lot more of her. Jordan Eliot as Paul, the man who jumps, is quite good, keeping us guessing constantly as to who Paul really is. Great stage presence. Frank Smith, as Eliot, Lora’s blind neighbor, also does an excellent job, especially with the blindness and the wittiness. Julie Benner seems the least comfortable on stage as the newly-widowed Lora, and makes some rather odd choices. Matt McKenna gives an interestingly subtle performance as the Super, but could make stronger choices throughout.
The only real flaw with the production is that most of the cast seem too young for their roles. But don’t let that stop you. You definitely should "jump" at the chance to see this production. Cheers, Northwestern!
