The Midnight Company’s production of Harold Pinter’s drama “Old Times” centers on a married couple welcoming the long-ago best friend of the wife, someone she has not seen in twenty years, into their home. The expectation is that the women will reminiscence about old times in London and the old friend will meet the husband, and reconnect. But the evening of witty chat starts to take a stranger, darker turn, with enigmatic exchanges and revelations, where memories are in dispute and secrets are exposed.
Any theater group in this city deserves applause for presenting a drama in musical-mad St. Louis, and Pinter’s “Old Times” provides a real treat for those of us who crave a meaty drama. But the Midnight Company goes beyond expectations with this production, which has a masterful cast and a near-perfect set by Chuck Winning despite its tiny but comfortable performance space at The Chapel.
Harold Pinter’s works are known for being engrossing if enigmatic, works that include plays like “The Birthday Party,” and “The Homecoming” and movie scripts like “The Go-Between” and “The French Lieutenant’s Woman.” “Old Times” fits exactly into that enigmatic and intriguing wheelhouse, the kind of play that engages the audience with engrossing human situations, intriguing characters, sharp dialog with a bit of biting humor, but leaves us with questions about what we saw, something to discuss after the show. It is a production sure to please Pinter fans.
Kate (Colleen Backer) and her husband Deeley (Joe Hanrahan) are preparing for the arrival of her long-ago best friend Anna (Kelly Howe) in their home in the English countryside near the ocean. Kate has not seen Anna for maybe twenty years. As they wait, Deeley asks her about her friend and Kate reveals that Anna was not only her best friend and roommate in London but her only friend back then, although Anna had other friends – lots of them, in fact. The two have not really stayed in touch, and Kate actually seems cool to the idea of this visit. We come to expect a brief, restrained visit, and a quick exit from the friend.
However, when Anna arrives, we find she is bubbly and warm, and she quickly embraces Kate. Kate seems to melt in that embrace, and after a quick introduction to husband Deeley, Anna quickly turns to Kate, lavishing adoring attention and praise on her as she recalls their shared life in London long ago. As we begin to wonder about the nature of their relationship, ignored Deeley becomes increasingly restless and jealous, both of his wife’s attention focused on the visitor and of the lively, charismatic visitor’s lack of attention on him. As Deeley strives to capture the attention of either or both women, Anna suddenly turns her warmth and attention to Deeley, although she still talks glowingly about Kate, while ignoring her completely. The switch prompts Kate to interject that they are talking about her as if she were dead.
It is a startling comment, and points out that Anna is indeed saying the kind of things one might say at a wake, and we begin to question what is really taking place before our eyes. In the second act, things get stranger and even take a darker turn into a frightening past.
Director Sarah Lynne Holt does a masterful job with this trio of characters in their intense dance. Each actor excels in creating a sharply drawn character. Kelly Howe as Anna comes into the room and takes it over with charisma and non-stop charming tales of the past, told with the skill of a polished storyteller and maybe a touch of a con. Colleen Backer is languid, preening and pleased to be admired by Anna and her husband, who becomes less nice as his jealousy rises. Joe Hanrahan is splendid as Deeley, a confident, sophisticated man who clearly is surprised and miffed not to be the center of attention of these two women, and sets out the change that, however he must. The witty banter, the shifting interpersonal dynamics, are darkly funny but with an undercurrent of sexual power struggles and frightening potential.
The mystery goes beyond the characters and which memories are real and which are mis-remembered. The play debuted in 1971 yet, puzzlingly, the old times Kate’s friend recalls seem to be from the early ’60s Swinging London, filled with art, music, theater and exhibits, with evenings of exciting nightlife and camaraderie in pubs. In Anna’s recalled memories, recounted to Kate and Deeley, all the past is a shining idyll, until the frustrated Deeley offers some of his own recollections of London long ago.
It all adds up to an enjoyable, stimulating evening, with a play that leaves you wondering about unanswered questions, puzzles to mull over and debate with your companions. Just as a good play should.
Midnight Theater’s “Old Times” is on stage at The Chapel theater through July 27.
© Cate Marquis
