An American Daughter

"An American Daughter" at the Diamond Theatre at Pershing Square has many moving parts to it. It is political- the play takes part in Georgetown where politics are at the forefront of everything. Dr. Lyssa Hughes (Jean Lichty) is the daughter of conservative Senator Alan Hughes(Dakin Matthews). She is about to be appointed Surgeon General until something happens that could dampen he hopes of approval. 

 Writer Wendy Wasserstein wrote this around 1997. It is different for her because in the past she was in your face political. Here, however, she takes a look at her party and criticizes it. The play delves into the hypocrisy of the left, the contradictions of the liberal elites. In her "The Heidi Chronicles" she had a much different tone about politics.

 The problem with Wasserstein's play is several fold: director Sarna Lapine dis an awful job blocking this play. This made the actors look like they were acting onstage rather than appearing natural, less forced. Both Lichty (A lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur) and Robert Sean Leonard (At Home at the Zoo) were washed out by the direction. Both of these actors always give a good performance when onstage but here they were ineffective throughout the play. Add to the fact that Montego Glover could not hold her role as a Doctor, and you have a recipe for disaster.  

"An American Daughter" can be funny at times; some of the writing is both outdated and weak though. I never thought Wendy Wasserstein was a great writer, just a good one. Her "Sisters Rosensweig" was probably her best work, even though she had way more accolades with "Chronicles". 

 What was really good about "Daughter" was the scenic design by Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams. The warm sun permeating through to the audience was comfortable to the eye. The lighting too (Alan C. Edwards) was warm with great colors to enhance the set. The sound design by Darron L. West helped this helpless play along with deft sounding throughout the two and a half hours.

  Where "American Daughter" could have been better is that the confrontation (the jury duty dilemma is just not that convincing) was anemic. The unemotional relationship between father and daughter was to evident from the start. The "fixer" of the conflict was way to ineffective. His nerdiness was more annoying to the audience than it was funny. 

 Between the weak direction, the holes in the consistency of some of the actors, the very inconsistent writing, "An American Daughter" is a play that will leave you scratching your head and asking "what was the writer trying to accomplish here?"

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The "Odyssey" Homer's brilliant works captures a king who has fought a ten year battle and just wants to return home to Ithaca to see his wife (Anne Hathaway) and his son.

Christopher Nolan directs this masterpiece which will be talked about for a very long time. The movie is only second to "Spider-man" at the box office this summer. My guess is that "Odyssey" will surpass it.

This big budget movie has wonderful cinematography, very solid acting,(Tom Holland, Robert Patterson, Zendaya and Charlize Theron). Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway too is excellent. Hathaway always gives a great performance. Matt Damon who is an average talent gives maybe his best performance since "Good Will Hunting".

This three hour movie will lock you in tight for the duration as the movie never gets boring. Homer wrote a masterpiece and Nolan was steadfast to the movie. It is often said by literary experts that this is the oldest book in modern history. Maybe more classics like this should be made into movies so that younger people can enjoy the classics.

Robert M. Massimi, GQ Magazine, Broadway Bob, Homer, The Odyssey, Spider-Man, Hollywood, Broadway, An American Daughter, Wendy Wasserstein, Off Broadway, Pershing Square, Washington DC.