Date: Fri 26-Jul-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: CHRISL

Illustration: C

Location: A10

Quick Words:

theatre-Faithful-Yale-rev

Full Text:

(rev "Faithful" @Yale Summer Cabaret, 7/26/96)

Theatre Review-

A `Faithful,' Committed Cabaret

(with photo)

By June April

NEW HAVEN - Chazz Palminteri is not only a exciting actor ( The Usual Suspects

, Jade ), but a talented playwright as well. His spellbinding thriller

Faithful is currently at Yale's Summer Cabaret Theatre.

Rumor has it Mr Palminteri will be coming to see what a fine job the ensemble

has done with his play some time this week.

Infidelity is the topic of the play, but it is handled with humor and

suspense. Set in a mansion in upstate New York, the beautiful Amy Cronise

plays Margaret, the supposedly unfaithful wife. The hired gun, who carries

some heavy psychological baggage, is Adrian LaTourelle, and the villainous,

troubled husband, Jack, is played by Kenan Minkoff. And there is another love

interest and a crazy psychiatrist... but not in the flesh.

The set for Faithful is the biggest and most creative thus far in the summer

series. Designed by Jim Larkin, it is slightly off center and flows

beautifully. The use of computer monitor bodies as part of the lighting is a

creative touch of lighting designer Dan Hansell. It also bespeaks the total

philosophical view towards theater and the open and magical touch of artistic

director Preston Lane and his managing director, Richard Whittington.

What rings clearly is the commitment and joy of the entire Summer Cabaret

Staff, from the kitchen crew and technical people to the acting ensemble. In

any of the delightful and informative post-performance talks (held every

Thursday night), an oft-repeated sentiment of the cast is the trust they have

in Preston Lane. As Elisa Griego, production manager and technical director

succinctly stated, "It's a sense of the joy of responsibility."

Faithful continues until July 27. Performances are at 8 pm July 25-27, with

second shows at 10:30 pm on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $8 to $15 each,

with group discounts available. Dinner is served at the Cabaret and it is fine

fare at reasonable prices; for additional information and to order tickets

call 432-1567. Tickets can be purchased directly from the Cabaret box office

between 1-5 pm Monday through Friday. The address is 217 Park Street in New

Haven.