ALMOST DONE, REUNION, DARK PONY

OVERVIEW
These three plays were produced as part of the first-ever David Mamet Festival at the Goodman Theatre, presented under the title Daughters, Sisters, Mothers. The evening also included Jolly directed by Steppenwolf’s Rick Snyder.

QUOTES, AWARDS & REVIEWS
"It’s titled Daughters, Sisters, Mothers but fathers figure prominently in Goodman Theatre’s bittersweet program of David Mamet playlets. An example of how the past imposes itself on the present, the well-directed, impeccably acted quartet begins with Almost Done. Ann Filmer directs this wistful monologue about family and memory, in which the appealing Bethany Caputo recalls the dreams of her younger self – walking home in the snow with her father – so that she may pass them on to her child. Over the course of a lifetime, it’s negligible, but the moment suggests the comfort of fathers, the solidity of family, which also underscores the brief, evocative Dark Pony, also directed by Filmer. Like Almost Done, it depicts the profound effect of a seemingly innocuous moment. Driving home late at night, a father (a solid, yet tender Danny Goldring) soothes his young daughter (a winsome Caputo) with an oft-told folk tale about an Indian brave and his beloved horse. Goldring and Caputo deftly convey the affection between this father and daughter. Reunion, which depicts the first meeting in 20 years between Carol (Caputo) and her estranged, recovering alcoholic father Bernie (Goldring), reveals a different dynamic. They had no ‘Dark Pony’ moment to unite them. Instead, they have fragments of a life and half-remembered stories as they fumble their way toward a relationship they both need. It’s a touching play about wary people negotiating their way back into each other’s lives (director Filmer mostly keeps them apart, before slightly narrowing the distance between them at the end). Caputo is very good as a nervous unhappy young woman looking to fill the hole in her heart and Goldring delivers a fine delicate performance as a resigned man awkwardly trying to make amends.” – Barbara Vitello Daily Herald

Reunion – “The play gets a first rate performance from Danny Goldring as the defeated but still hopeful Bernie and Bethany Caputo as Carol, attempting to salvage some sense of family from her present dismal life. The actors match up beautifully under Ann Filmer’s direction.” – Dan Zeff Copley News Service

FEATURING:
Bethany Caputo and Danny Goldring

DESIGNS BY:
Cecil Averett, Robert Christen, Rachel Anne Healy,Todd Rosenthal