Animal--Woman on the Verge

     By Joseph Cervelli 

      No one can play a woman on the verge better than the brilliant actress Rebecca Hall whose performance of a woman convicted and executed for the murder of her husband in the recent “Machinal” was astonishing. In Clare Lizzimore’s fascinating but ultimately disappointing new play “Animal” at the Atlantic Theater Company she again proves how galvanising she someone going though the depths of emotional turmoil. 

Rachel (Hall)  dressed in gray sweats, a hoodie and a woolen cap which she only removes near the end of the play is meeting with her psychiatrist (Greg Keller. ) Her diagnosis is not revealed until the play’s too tidy and unsatisfying  conclusion ,although we find out that she was unable to work and wants the doctor to allow her to do so. He informs her she can return to employment whenever she feels like it and she seems to  have ambivalent feelings about his suggestion. She is not the ideal patient arguing with him and seeming to put up constant barriers. 

The scenes in her home become the most enigmatic which eventually get explained. She lives with her caring husband Tom (a very fine Morgan Spector) who seems to be at his wits end with her centrifugal force of behavioral changes. She can be sweet as is shown in some flashback (at least, one assumes they are) scenes with him and then become belligerent. Living with them is the Old Woman (a wonderful Kirstin Griffith) whom Tom calls his mother. She is in a wheelchair and only mumbles. While Tom is very caring to the woman and expects Rachel to be the same, when he is at work she is anything but. While not physically abusive she succumbs in an almost menacing way to the woman’s taunts by giving her cold soup and getting furious when she spills it all over herself. What are we to make of Rachel? The callousness is disturbing and at the same time she seems unable to control her behavior almost taking pleasure in being at odds with everyone. Her anger towards her husband also is unfounded although things are explained at the conclusion.  

A hunky young man Dan, (David Pegram) breaks into their apartment and instead of robbing her wants to kiss her and tries to coax her in his sexy manner to do more. She is taken by him and he seems to have a relaxing affect upon her in a way that she can escape the web of confusion she is in. Hall is such  an amazing actress that you never take your eyes off her as she almost begins to break through the margins that she feels surround her being. Of course, at the same time you are wondering why isn’t she calling for her husband who is in the other room. 

More of a conundrum is why when she visits the doctor another time he is played by a little girl (Fina Strazza). The dialogue between them never seems to add anything to the play and despite Gaye Taylor Unchurch’s capable direction that particular scene seems more foolish than meaningful.

The conclusion comes a bit too swiftly and tidy and for reasons I cannot get into not entirely believable. 

Still, we are blessed with seeing an actress on a nearly bare stage whose every word you will hang onto. You travel with her on this journey as she pulls you into her edgy world. 

Tickets are available at the Atlantic Theater Company/Stage 2 330 West 16th Street or by calling 866.811.4111. As of this date the limited engagement ends July 2. 

PHOTOS: AHRON FOSTER

Email: jcerv58957@aol.com