As Nicky Silver’s newest play, The Lyons, opens, we’re in a hospital room. The patriarch of the Lyons family, Ben Lyons (played by Dick Latessa) has cancer in nearly every part of his body, and his wife, Rita (played by Linda Lavin) has just called the children to let them know their father is dying. The children, Lisa (Kate Jennings Grant) and Curtis (Michael Esper) soon file in with issues of their own; Lisa, for example, is a recovering alcoholic who frequently announces her need to call her sponsor. And we soon find out that Curtis isn’t as together as he appears. Throughout the play, the family scene unravels, sending each person off to a new destination, and the play ends with a different Lyons in the hospital bed.
Linda Lavin chose this role over roles in Broadway’s Follies and Other Desert Cities and she certainly gets enough stage time to justify this. Her role as the overbearing mother who always says things that she shouldn’t could have been a caricature with a lesser actress. Lavin brings an emotional depth and honesty to her character, so much so that the audience is on her side in what would seem a ridiculous scenario otherwise. She anchors the play and in some ways, anchors the family, with her never-fail brutal honesty.
Dick Latessa as Ben gets a small amount of stage time compared to the other three members of the family, but turns in a strong performance, if a little one dimensional. Though this play boasts two Tony Award winners, Latessa and Lavin, Grant and Esper steal the show.
Kate Jennings Grant adds a well developed, believable character arc to Lisa, and has good sibling chemistry with her onstage brother, Michael Esper. Esper delivers a nearly flawless performance as Curtis, who only wants to his mother to be happy with what he’s doing with his life, even if it means lying to her. Esper is an extremely emotional actor and he seems to leave everything he has on the stage- it’s exhausting, yet exhilarating to watch him work. He has an amazing ability to convince you that he is right, and earns your sympathy.
Good supporting performances are given by Gregory Wooddell and Brenda Pressley (both work opposite Esper, mainly). Wooddell (as Brian) is strong in an argument opposite Esper, though the stage combat was not the best.
The set (designed by Allen Moyer) may seem simplistic at first glance, but the realism, particularly in the hospital room is marvelous. Costumes by Michael Krass are beautiful and seamless in the production.
While The Lyons is funny, there is a darker layer to the play that may be misleading to those looking for a light night in the theater. The Lyons, by Nicky Silver, directed by Mark Brokaw is currently in previews for an October 11th opening at the Vineyard Theatre on East 15th Street. The Vineyard offers a $20 rush ticket policy, subject to availability, available at the box office 2 hours prior to curtain.