The ask
Written by Matthew Freeman; Directed by Jessi D. Hill
wild project at 195 E 3rd Street, NYC
September 6-28
Photo by Kent Meister
Matthew Freeman’s ‘The Ask’ is a bold play. So, it’s only fitting that I start this review with an equally bold statement: It’s the best play I’ve seen in a very, very long time.
A wildly witty 80-minute play that knows its characters as well as it knows itself, ‘The Ask’ takes place entirely in liberal donor Greta’s Upper West Side apartment, where young fundraiser Tanner is trying to convince Greta to donate to the ACLU once again. It’s a feat in and of itself to have a full-length play with only two characters be thoroughly engaging, but every single person involved on this project achieved that and more. Not only did the writing tackle the division among the liberal voters in the United States, it did so with humor and love for both of its characters. The direction made the flow of the conversation seamless - and the actors were, for lack of a better term, fantastic.
Betsy Aidem was powerful and just outright hilarious as Greta, and Colleen Litchfield breathed life into the endearing, somewhat anxious-in-a-Gen-Z-way Tanner. While both of these characters were wonderfully developed throughout the play, what I loved the absolute most was that they both made sense. They both believed in their arguments, and their convictions only shed light on what we as voters owe this country - and each other.
The set design was gorgeous - an apartment that’s the dream of any 20-something year old in this city, filled to the brim with books and framed photos of a life well lived. With very little lighting or sound throughout the show, everything was crisp and, most importantly, allowed the writing to shine.
The dialogue didn’t dull itself for the sake of having an audience follow the conversation - it was clear that Freeman knew that we would understand the themes and obstacles both of these characters try to face. When Greta was confused, we were confused. When Tanner was upset, we were upset. Both of these characters are deeply intelligent, and virtuously stubborn. We don’t see enough characters like that onstage.
I have to say, it’s been much too long since I’ve seen a play : a no-frills, straight to the point, good f*cking play. ‘The Ask’ was a breath of fresh air in a sea of experimental work that (in my very humble opinion) is always good, worthy work in its own right - I just really missed seeing plays. This is the first time in a long time, but I have a good feeling it isn’t the last.
Click HERE for more info.
Reviewed by Niranjani Reddi.
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on September 8th, 2024. All rights reserved.