At the curtain call on opening night of the splendid new Broadway revival of “A Delicate Balance” at the Golden Theater, the actors Glenn Close, John Lithgow, Lindsay Duncan, Martha Plimpton, Clare Higgins and Bob Balaban, following thunderous applause, began to solemnly speak to the audience in regard to the passing the day before of the beloved stage and film director Mike Nichols. Near tears Glenn Close and John Lithgow both of whom had worked with Nichols and considered him a friend extolled his great talent as well as all the love he gave to those he worked with. It seems Mike Nichols had seen the play in previews and said to Close and Lithgow backstage that this was the best production of “A Delicate Balance” he had ever seen. They also announced that the very next night the lights were to be dimmed on Broadway in honor of the great director. The actors then asked the captive audience to join in on a sing-along to one of Mike Nichols favorite songs – it was the Roy Rogers –Dale Evans signature tune “Happy Trails to You” – and the audience was enthralled by what was at that moment both a sad and joyful musical tribute.
When the curtain opens the first thing we see is the splendid suburban living room set designed by Santo Loquasto. The palatial room with its plump richly upholstered overstuffed sofa and chairs, obligatory coffee table, ottoman and impressive designer rugs is topped off by an immense crystal chandelier that defines it all. The color scheme is muted pastels and all is geared toward the set taste of the wealthy couple who live in the house. To one side is the all-important wet bar with its whiskey bottles, ice bucket and fancy crystal glasses and goblets. As in Albee’s first full length play “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” the booze flows like water. The characters, led mainly by John Lithgow’s Tobias, the man of the house, are constantly imbibing bourbon, vodka, fine cognac or specially mixed bone-dry martinis (with olives, please) be it morning, noon or night, as an antidote to their despair.
The roost here is ruled by Agnes (Close) who is Tobias’ wife and is definitely the one who is in charge – all the way. She opens the play as if talking into the air, aware that no one is listening to her, making the pronouncement that she feels she might be drifting into madness. Claire (played by Lindsay Duncan) the co-dependent drunk-before-noon sarcastic live-in sister of Agnes is ever present in the first scene and she describes herself as “…a alcoholic!” who has no desire to sober–up. She makes light of her days of attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings which it seems could not break her willful determination to get drunk.
The big house in all of its splendor satisfies no one and maintaining the delicate balance in this upscale materialistic setting has only led to feelings of loneliness and alienation. Arriving unexpectedly are best friends and neighbors Harry (Bob Balaban) and Edna (Clare Higgins) perfect in their roles as the terrified couple who have entered into a frightening existential Pinteresque ‘No Man’s Land,’ feeling unable to remain in their own house any longer. They bluntly ask if they can move in bag and baggage with Agnes and Tobias, who in a confused state of mind themselves reluctantly acquiesce to this request. When Agnes’ fortyish daughter Julia (Martha Plimpton) arrives having just left her fourth husband to move back home again to live with Mommy and Daddy, she is shocked to find that Harry and Edna have moved into her room. Several of Julia’s temper tantrums follow, throwing the household into further chaos. After a long weekend fueled by more drinking and a number of heated confrontations, Harry and Edna decide the time has come to leave, despite Tobias’ imploring them to stay on for as long as they want. They decide to go home anyway, reminding their friends that they would all get together at the Club for dinner as usual. It is clear that nothing has changed and Agnes still feels she may one day go mad. The play is primarily based on dialogue and character nuance – interaction rather than being plot driven. John Lithgow has the right touch as a man who is lost in the world of suburban luxury and retirement. Glenn Close is regal as the commanding Agnes who must maintain her fragile reality at any cost. All of the characters played by the six actors are alienated – each living in their own separate world – but the ensemble cast gives stellar performances. Albee’s eloquent language makes this a powerful evening in theater, harking back to Broadway at its best. We can see why “A Delicate Balance” won a Pulitzer Prize.
The august Harvard Club was the perfect gathering place for the opening night after party. There were imposing portraits of past presidents and mounted stag heads, moose and elephant on the wood-paneled walls in the vaulted ceiling rooms. And when I met the glamorous Glenn Close she was, as if in character, sipping a martini (with three olives), just as she had in the play. All in all a great once-in-a-lifetime New York evening.
A Delicate Balance
At the Golden Theatre
252 West 45th Street, through February 22nd.
