Terms of Endearment

Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters

You may recall this movie of the same name.  A real tear-jerking emotional story directed by Michael Parva about the fragility of life, and the things we all too often take for granted.

Aurora (Molly Ringwald) is the controlling, overbearing mother who has become a career widow.  Her life revolves around Emma (Hannah Dunne), her only child.  Aurora does not approve of Flap (Denver Milord), Emma’s choice of husband or of becoming a grandmother six months later and she pretty much doesn’t approve of anything when it comes to Emma and her decisions in life.   Of course Mother knows best, and her premonitions  turn out to be right about Flap as more babies come, along with financial difficulties and infidelities.  The sad and tragic ending to this story is a lesson in life.  At the end of the day, there are things that can tear a family apart and you have absolutely no control or say in the matter, so you really need to cut through the nonsense, and make each day count.

You will find this to be scaled down production, in contrast to the movie with no shortfall in comedy or emotion. The set (David L. Arsenault) was simplistic with areas having multiple uses by scene. There was a chair, a bed, a sofa, a kitchen and two telephones.   In this version the Renoir painting, also seen in the movie, takes more of a symbolic role depicting a woman and child.

We have little distraction from Emma and Flap’s three children, who are heard but not seen.  It leaves the central focus on mother daughter relationship.  Garrett (Jeb Brown), who becomes the love interest of Aurora  is perfectly cast as the  womanizing arrogant, egotistical astronaut neighbor with the soft center.   The supporting cast members did a good job at playing,  Emma’s  low down dirty husband Flap (Denver Milord), best friend Patsy (Jessica DiGiovanni) and Dr. Maise (John C. Vennema) but took a backseat to the  real heart of the story of Aurora and Emma.  If you have seen the movie, this ends the same, but Playwright Dan Gordon adds some changes at the end that will most likely have you a little more choked up than you remembered.

Molly Ringwald has come a long way from her brat pack days, and has blossomed into a stunning woman and impressive actress.  Both she and Dunne give  stellar performances.   This is definitely one to check out.  Bring tissues.  This show runs through December 11th,  2016.  For tickets and more information visit http://www.59e59.org/  and you can also check my website for available discounts here  -ThisbroadSway 11/10/16