Gene & Gilda

By Joseph Cervelli

Just by the title alone "Gene & Gilda" you know exactly whom this sweet and likable play written by Cary Gitter at 59E59 Theaters produced by Penguin Rep Theatre is about. Two incomparable comic actors, Gene Wilder ( Jonathan Randell Silver) and his wife Gilda Radner (Jordon Kai Burnett. ) My first thought was I hope this is not going to be just an interview with both performers the guests of Dick Cavett  since there is a logo from his show on the back wall before the play begins.  But far from this being an interview play. Yes, Cavett does want to interview Wilder about not only his career but the untimely passing  of his wife at the age of 42.  Then suddenly Gilda come out on stage and urges Wilder to provide more information about their lives than he wants to. Wilder states emphatically that anything about his late wife is off limits but not to her. She wants the world to know about their loving and sometimes not always easy relationship.

They met on the set of a flop of a film they both were appearing in. It was truly a love at first sight relationship even though Gilda was still married and Gene had been married several times before. 

What I enjoyed about the way it is written and well directed by Joe Brancato is that it is told in chronological order so you are privy to not only the happy times but the bumps in the road of their relationship. And Gilda makes sure that we as part of the studio audience see the "good, the bad and the ugly." Wilder's career takes off while Radner's never goes that far other than on Saturday Night Live. Yes, she did make a few films and could have made more but illness prevented that. Her real claim to fame were several characters the most famous ones Roseanne Rosannadanna, Emily Litella and Baba Wawa. Burnett does well in the smart aleck remarks and most certainly in the dramatic ones. The last scene with her and Silver sitting on a bench in Paris is lovely and moving. Unfortunately, her impersonating Radner as the three characters mentioned is not as funny as I had hoped for.  True, no one could imitate Radner to the extent that she created these hilarious characters, but I was hoping for something more spot on. Still Burnett does give a good performance, and I admired her devotion towards Radner. 

On the other hand, Silver personifies Wilder. He looks and sounds like him. His imitation of Wilder portraying the unforgettable character Leo Bloom from the hysterical film "The Producers" is incomparable. I could swear I was watching a clip from the film. While it feels like it was just shoehorned in when not really necessary,  it worked. 

There are a couple of dance numbers which did not really work that well for me. The dramatic one which is near the end would have been just fine while the others turned into something too silly. 

I was impressed by Christian Fleming's simple but effective set and Brian Pacelli's stunning projections of among other locales the Carlyle worked perfectly. Also, Jose Santiago's lighting was evocative of the mood of the play. 

If you were fans of both or either of the couple then I would highly recommend a visit. It runs only about 80 minutes but it incorporates a lot about their work and relationships. You just wish that their life together could have lasted much longer. 

PHOTOS: Carol Rosegg

Tickets are available at the 59E59 Theaters 59 East 59th Street.