Another Shot 

By Joseph Cervelli

"Another Shot" playing at the Signature Theater can have two meanings. The most obvious one is another shot of alcohol at a bar or another shot at rehab. In the case of this honest and deeply affecting play written by Spike Manton and Harry Teinowitz with very convincing performances both meanings could apply though it mostly refers to the first one.  

Teinowitz was a popular sports-radio announcer in Chicago before he was arrested for DUI. Not very smart when a cop stops you and your response to his "Are you drinking?" is "Are you buying?" Your first impulse might be a chuckle but then it is pointed out that of 25 million alcoholics only 5% are in rehab. Dan Butler who played the hilarious womanizer on the tv series "Frasier" does very well as Harry. Butler portrays Harry as a wisecracking (the real Harry was a stand up comic, too) guy who thinks he is full of humor. He acts as both narrator and one of the alcoholics in the rehab center (set design by Beowulf Boritt.) He like many who first come to rehab for either alcohol or drug addiction are  in denial. Something clicks later on in the show which is extremely touching that makes Harry realize he must get sober. This is where Butler really excels. He has the comedic touch but fights back tears when he receives something in the mail from one of his daughters.    

It is wonderful having the always excellent Gregg Mozgala back on stage here portraying Isaiah the OxyCodin addicted pharmacist. Just hearing the choice he made between choosing between his partner and pills is heartbreaking.  

Andrea (a fine Samantha Mathis) has been in and out of rehab and who feels lost with a mother she calls a "bitch." Her life seems consumed more by alcohol than communicating with friends. I wish we got to know more about her than what is told here.

Chike Johnson is superb as Vince someone also fighting alcoholism for a good part of his life but this time he seems to have gotten himself together. Laughing and joking he appears to be on his way to recovery despite being in and out of rehab.  Married with two young kids he is determined to make a huge change in his life despite the obstacles of liquor.

A wonderful Portia (Barb) is the  rehab therapist who oversees this group as someone herself who had a severe drinking issue and now is in charge of group meetings. She also handles individual issue of the five assigned to her group. She knows enough about the consequences of the disease and those afflicted with it, since she was a patient once herself. 

The youngest of the group George (a very believable Quentin Nguyen-Duy) seems to be having a very difficult time staying sober and just when you think he has made it, he returns from a bike ride inebriated with his bike destroyed.  When he and two others decide to go to Walgreens your first thought might be what can be the harm in that.  Portia knows the havoc that can be caused when someone addicted decides to go to any pharmacy. 

During scene changes, names are flashed on the back and side walls with the amount of time they are been sober along with sharing their voices with brief statements about what it was like while alcoholics. 

 Jackson Gay's notable direction give perfect authenticity to the play confirming the fact that alcoholism and drug addiction are truly diseases and not choices.  I must say I was one of those people when in my 20's  thought well "can't they just stop." Quite naive in my thinking until I had some friends who just could not stop without any kind of intervention. 

This is not the kind of play where all things come to a happy ending, unfortunately. And the humorous moments that were evident earlier in the play dissipate and become tragically real.  This despite the fact that you find yourself cheering them on and hoping they all become recovering addicts. 

Some of the writing in the first 30 minutes or so has a stereotypical feel but then this important work becomes more intense and stirring as it moves on. 

PHOTOS: Joan Marcus

Tickets are available at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street.