Epiphany – Whatever That Is
What’s your definition of the word epiphany? Is it the January 6 Christian holiday commemorating the Magi’s visit to the baby Jesus, a sudden and profound understanding of something, a revelatory manifestation of a divine being? Are you willing to spend two hours at a gathering of relative strangers awkwardly brought together to “celebrate” it without a clue as to why they’re present? Can disconnected ontological, philosophical and fatalistic opinions hold your attention?
L to R: Jonathan Hadary, C.J. Wilson, Heather Burns, Marylouise Burke and Omar Metwally
Morkan (Marylouise Burke whose masterful gestures and comic absentmindedness create an elderly flibety gibbet) has invited nine people to “celebrate” epiphany by way of a complicated attachment-laden invitation none have bothered to read past page one. Though all seem to vaguely know the hostess and her absent sister Julia, few are acquainted with one another.
Only Ames (Jonathan Hadary), long time friend of the siblings, seems intimate enough to justify the trip through a snowstorm for a holiday no one understands. It’s suggested many have turned up in order to brush shoulders with the famous intellectual flavor-of-the-year, Morkan’s nephew Gabriel – who then, is too depressed to attend.
Those present are: Loren (Colby Minifie) a young woman more or less there to help, Freddy (C.J. Wilson) an algebra teacher about whose drinking we’re unnecessarily warned, the upwardly mobile Kelly (Heather Burns), who’s a tightly wound alcoholic pianist and her lawyer husband Charlie (Francois Battiste), thoughtful psychoanalyst Sam (Omar Metwally) and his marketer, along-for0the-ride- husband Taylor (David Ryan Smith), and the ethereal Aran (Carmen Zilles) ostensibly sent by Gabriel to fulfill his commitment of helming the event.
Carmen Zilles, C.J. Wilson, Colby Minifie, Marylouise Burke, Omar Metwally and David Ryan Smith
All cell phones are placed in a box to prevent distraction, but almost every activity Morkan had planned is unprepared for and/or refused with discomfort. There’s a big meal, a couple of eclectic poems, a short modernistic piano piece (ouch) and a pretty song. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Towards the end, a couple of not unanticipated events occur.
Director Tyne Rafaeli imbues none of her able cast with interesting characteristics. Overlapping dialogue and small stage business work to add realism. But we don’t care.
Next to Burke, the star of this play is John Lee Beatty’s marvelous set. Stairs rise up two stories, woodwork is splendid, immense windows offer an artful view of branches and snowfall, furniture is proud but decrepit. Lots and lots of candles reveal collections of personal items.
Lighting by Isabella Byrd is eerie, often subtle and well timed.
Montana Levi Blanco does a fine job with apt costuming.
Photos by Jeremy Daniel
Opening: The Company
Epiphany by Brian Watkins
Directed by Tyne Rafaeli
Through July 24, 2022
Lincoln Center Theater at The Mitzi E Newhouse
150 West 66th Street
