Review of “I Am My Own Wife”

"Buzzin" Lee Hartgrave

“Wife” was presented by the La Jolla Playhouse and worked its way to another workshop in Chicago and then to off-Broadway. I assume that on the way the one-person play was tweaked and lengthened to its current two hours.

The Playwright Doug Wright has this to say about how the play came about: “I Am My Own Wife" draws upon several sources” transcribed interviews I conducted with Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, from our initial meeting in August of 1962 until January 1994; letters we exchanged until her death in 2002 and newspaper accounts of her life in the public records.”

Of course as a playwright, he has edited some of the dialogue for dramatic impact and to keep the play on a tight pace.

Wright has produced an intriguing documentary theater piece. One wonders however, what the play would be like in the hands of a less skilled actor than Jefferson Mays – who manages to squeeze in 34 characters in the two hour talk-fest wearing the same black maids dress with a pearl necklace. Did Charlotte never change clothes? I doubt that many regional theaters would care to take on this task. If they couldn’t find a Mays to play the part, the theater piece would totally deconstruct faster than the Nazi regime.

There is a way it could be done – adding more humans on the stage to play some of the parts would make it easier to cast and perhaps make it a more interesting story with some diversion from the constant patter of one person. Yes, Jefferson Mays is a great actor and he deserves all the accolades that he has received – but if it wasn’t for the relief of the lighting by David Lander and Derek McLane’s fascinating set which shows in ghostly light a collection of doll size furniture, clocks, a Gramophone and other treasures that Charlotte collected in lit windows the story would have overwhelmed with out this diversion.

Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, was a transvestite who managed to survive the horrible years of the Nazi Regime. After the war, and the Yanks and Russians took over, there was still repression. For instance – she could not sell any of her collection to get a little extra money if she were paid in American money. As Mays relays all this to us virtually talking to himself as an American, a German and many other accents – even a Southern U.S. Soldier, it sometimes is hard to keep up with all these self visits with all these characters. Mays is a man of a Thousand accents. While watching this I was thinking – Gee, there are people in my building who talk to themselves also, but they are not as skilled.

I’m sure that you will read many rave reviews for this documentary. But, I will caution those of you who fall asleep while reading a book – you may find that this well may have that effect on you. On the other hand if you are dying for a good nights sleep “Wife” might just do the trick. I’ll leave it at this – If you fancy yourself as an intellectual, you will love “Wife”. If you want to go to the theater to just have fun and understand what you are seeing – then don’t go. Some people did leave at intermission. It wasn’t their cup of tea.

But I would be remiss if I did not give the performer “Jefferson Mays” the RATING OF FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE !!!!

GLITTERATI: At the opening was Hat Lady (Jan Wahl). Someone seated behind me said – Is that Charlotte von Mahlsdorf?
I didn’t correct her. Also getting several looks was Bebe Neuwirth who is starring up the street (Post Street Theater) in “Here Lies Jenny.” There was of course the usual sprinkling of T.V and Radio people and their secretaries. I see no reason to give them more publicity. The Curran Theater is the perfect “Make Your Entrance” theater. The seasoned glitterati go to the front of the stage and look up at the peasants in the balcony – knowing that they are looking and that they can’t reach out and touch. It’s all Grand Theater.

LOOK FOR + LOOK FOR + LOOK FOR

O Spencer Day opens in a new show that he wrote. You can catch that at the New Conservatory. Day was a contestant “Star Search” and wound up in the finals.

O Les Miz will be at the Curran soon – and it is becoming one of the most sought after tix in the City along with “Wicked”. Which reminds me. During the seating of “Wife” a couple came in and tried to find their seats. An usher asked may I help you?
The Usher looked at the tickets and said. “These are Tickets for “Wicked” at the Orpheum, but that opens next month”. It’s nice to be early – but that is really pushing it.

O Also in the audience was “Richard Crania” of the online entertainment paper “Talkin’ Broadway”. He is always so friendly and knows everything about everyone.

O Mambo Kings will liven up Market Street in the Golden Gate soon. Maybe they can get Arnie to be there on stage opening night. Did you get a glimpse of him at the Cinco de Mayo festivities in Sacramento shaking the Marimbas? Somehow the vision of “Blow up Doll” came to mind.

GET OUT…SHAKE IT…BE YOU OWN WIFE…MAKE IT LES MIZ – NOT A WIZ – SEE A WITCH – SHAKE IT WITH A MAMBO KING!

RANTS – RAVES – TIPS. buzztatler@aol.com. Letters to the Editor: beyondchron.org

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