Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Matthew Freeman’s debate-driven new play THE ASK is an insightful look into the slippery world of fundraising

• By drediman
• September 26, 2024
• No Comments

One of the chief pleasures of casting a wide net when theater-going is getting the opportunity to catch important new theatrical voices on their ascent to public conscience. That was the case last night when I attended a performance of The Ask, Matthew Freeman’s terrific new two-hander currently wrapping up performances at the wild project in the East Village (the production is set to shutter this weekend; hopefully it will have a future life). In short, the play depicts the first meeting between a wealthy older donor (Greta) and the new ACLU planned giving officer (Tanner, who happens to be non-binary) who’s been assigned to her. Although both are idealistic left-leaning liberals and passionate advocates of the ACLU, drama ensues when the generational gap and resulting philosophical differences between them affects Greta’s prospective giving to the organization.

Although The Ask is essentially a compactly structured debate-driven play, its clever scenario lets the play operate on multiple levels while giving audiences an insightful look into the slippery world of individual giving. Furthermore, it allows the exchange of ideas between the two characters — particularly as it relates to the fundamental scope and mission of the ACLU (no spoilers here!) — to ping pong naturally. Indeed, their budding donor/development professional relationship — with its built-in power dynamic — is a fascinating lens through which to observe their contrasting views. Thankfully, their respective arguments are well-matched and fully fleshed out, smartly allowing audiences to make up their own minds on the matters at hand. Over the course of the play, Freeman insidiously develops both characters — and their nascent relationship, in whatever capacity — while allowing their conversation to unfold organically in real time. Although the play ends on a firmly unresolved note, there’s a glimmer of hope that Greta and Tanner just may have learned something from one another.

Putting ideological debate aside, the real human drama of the play — beautifully manifested by Jessi D. Hill’s well-judged staging and the outstanding performances by Betsy Aides as Greta and Colleen Litchfield as Tanner — arises because both characters stubbornly refuse to make individual giving merely a transactional exchange. Indeed, each is desperate to be seen and acknowledged as an individual, even to the point of forfeiting, on either end, Greta’s donations if it means losing themselves in the process. Greta is the more overtly showy of the two roles, and Aides (who was so good in Joshua Harmon’s Prayer for the French Republic) pounces on the opportunity to create a portrayal that’s simply put a force of nature. As the more introspective Tanner, Litchfield gives a contrasting, equally accomplished performance whose quiet mettle and thoughtful inner resolve are just as memorable in their own way.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

THE ASK
Off-Broadway, Play
Theater Accident at the wild project
1 hour, 20 minutes (without an intermission)
Through September 28