Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The singularly hilarious Jackie Hoffman finds the ideal role in Dale Smith’s FRUMA-SARAH (WAITING IN THE WINGS)

• By drediman
• July 18, 2021
• No Comments

Yesterday, I attended Dale Smith’s satisfying two-hander Fruma-Sarah (Waiting in the Wings) at the ever so eclectic cell theatre in Chelsea. The main draw of the show, which has been lovingly directed by Braden Burns, is to see singularly hilarious funny woman Jackie Hoffman back onstage after more than a year. In this new play, the outrageous comic portrays Ariana, a frustrated actress – and woman – who is cast in the bit role of Fruma-Sarah in an avant-garde northern New Jersey community theater production of Fiddler on the Roof. For those of you who don’t recall, the character is the shrill ghost of the ex-wife of Tevye’s potential brother-in-law (!).

Mr. Smith’s play takes place in real time during a performance of the aforementioned revival of the classic Harnick and Bock musical, where we encounter Ariana waiting in the wings with a substitute stage manager to appear in Tevye’s dream – which takes approximately 75 minutes from the commencement of the musical, or the play’s running time. The first thing that becomes evident is how aggressively the work caters to theater-lovers. Indeed, the constant theatrical references and in-jokes come fast and furious, much to the audience’s delight (at least at my performance). However, as the work unfolds, the playwright also uncovers heftier themes as it explores the challenges of working in the theater as a women and the unheralded sacrifices they often have to make. Additionally, the piece tackles issues such as aging and alcoholism (Ariana, a self-professed woman of a certain age, guzzles down a flask of whiskey over the course of the play) with transparency and touching sensitivity.

As many of you know, Ms. Hoffman is an unhinged and unfiltered force of nature. In the role of the outspoken Ariana, she’s found a character who shares many of her innate qualities as a performer, which gives Ms. Hoffman less of an opportunity to break character – as she’s wont to do. In fact, she shows a dramatic range here, which is a rarity from the actress and a pleasant surprise. She’s ultimately heartbreaking as she bears her soul in her descent into an alcoholic stupor. Counterbalancing Ms. Hoffman’s presence is Kelly Kinsella as the stage manager, whose cool and collected performance is the rock which steadies Ms. Hoffman/Ariana’s boisterous verbal escapades.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

FRUMA-SARAH (WAITING IN THE WINGS)
Off-Broadway, Play / In-person
the cell theatre
1 hour, 15 minutes (without an intermission)
Through July 25