John Patrick Shanley’s “Storefront Church” returns to where the trilogy began, with the 2004 Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning drama “Doubt.” The Atlantic Theater Company’s stage production is moving, though I think most audiences will find it preachy. If you can look at what this play is saying it is heartbreaking, for there is no choice anymore.
The time is 2009, but it could just as well be now. Ethan Goldklang (Bob Dishy) has been turned down for an extension on his wife’s house by a loan officer Reed Van Druyten (the terrific Zach Grenier). Seeming unsympathetic to his plight, Ethan goes off on the rigid Reed and has a heart attack in the process. Jessie Cortez (Tonya Pinkins), Ethan’s wife, took out a second mortgage to turn the ground floor into a place of worship for minister Chester Kimmich (Ron Cephas Jones). In dire straights, she blackmails Bronx borough president and preacher’s son Donaldo Calderon (Giancarlo Esposito) into helping her. It seems Donaldo’s mother co-signed the default loan. Donaldo goes to see Chester to find out why he has never held a service and why he won’t pay Jessie so she can pay off her debt. The meeting does not go well but Chester agrees to do a service if Donaldo will come. It turns out the bank’s CEO Tom Raidenberg (Jordan Lage) is happy to forgive the loan in exchange for Donaldo’s support on a $300 million neighborhood development project. All end up in church where the question of when did selling out become OK is the issue. Home or soul? Food or death? This is the art of the deal and you see Donald Trump in both Reed and Tom.
Shanley directed his play, but this work could use a fresh eye as it drags on. The two musical scenes are more for scene change than plot and stop the momentum. The actors are all wonderful, especially Zach Grenier.
I missed “Defiance,” the second of the trilogy but found “Storefront Church” to speak to my soul.
Atlantic Theater Company, 336 West 20th Street, until July 1st.
Posted by Suzanna Bowling
on June 15, 2012. Filed under ENTERTAIMENT,Theatre.
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