Seattlest: The Cook @ Seattle Rep

bilco

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:44:43 -0800

My last thought on this one - There are some things that are mentioned in the second act, such as the betrayal of the gay character. But there's precious little pathos delivered on stage for this grueling decision. Show us, don't tell us. Likewise the decision surrounding the girlfriend (and isn't that her daughter, not the son, in act 3?). Outside of some pat statements, the play presents very little on either of these wrenching decisions. Sorry, we'll have to agree to disagree on this one - but I do love reading this blog!

Dan

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 13:14:30 -0800

Awesome--a reader who has seen the play. A woman sits down with her husband and tells him that no, he can't have his girlfriend and their son move in with them, and he can turn her beloved gay cousin in to the secret police for all she cares, all while the three of them choke down a plate of tamales, and nothing happens on stage? Alright, maybe things seem a bit stiff in the third act where the script calls for some kind of impossible crescendo of emotion surrounding the American girl, but I think it's a bit harsh to hang that on the production. It's like asking them to crank it up to 11 in the final act after the whole of the second has been performed at 10.

bilco

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:55:36 -0800

Sorry to disagree on this one - The Cook is a really, really, lame production, with wooden acting and a primitive, one dimensional script. Nothing happens on stage - except woman leaves her house and her child returns in act 3. That's it. Sample dialog from Act 3 "You mean x (I forgot the exact name), the retired general that lives down the street". Ah, yeah, that guy. Clunky, clunky exposition - and in Act 3! Turns out it matters not who this person is. The father figure has no hint of a Spanish accent, except for the fact the 'Cuba' is pronounced 'Cooba'. One way or the other, I don't care which, but flat American accents don't say Cooba. There are many interesting issues to discuss in the current state of Cuba. Sadly this play has none.