MY THING OF LOVE
Steppenwolf Theatre Company
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Much like the aimless narcissists and ex-potheads who populate Ann Beattie’s fiction, Jack drifts through his life, into adultery and out of his marriage, without regard for the consequences. And though Elly has a strong desire to keep the marriage together, she too seems to act out of instinct. (If she really thought about her shallow prick of a husband, she’d drop him in a second, or make it clear that she’s staying only for the children.) It’s very hard to identify with these characters. We laugh at them, not with them.
In fact, the performance of this remarkable actress–so ill-used two years ago in the silly, superficial Wrong Turn at Lungfish–makes one wonder whether the play was written with her strengths in mind. I suppose it’s possible, since Gersten did develop the play as part of Steppenwolf’s New Plays Project.
Metcalf’s superiority certainly makes sense within the context of the play–she’s the one being wronged after all, and she’s the only character, other than the school guidance counselor (ably played by Tim Hopper), who seems aware that more is at stake than the happiness of a middle-aged man and the pretty young thing he picked up at a convenience store.
