"MATCHES", A WINNER
A Review by Tom Stobart
 

WHEELING, W.Va. (January 21, 2009)- -A witty and affecting script, exceptional ensemble acting and the deft direction of Hal O'Leary make "Matches," the current offering at the Towngate Theatre, a most enjoyable theatrical experience.
 
Winner of the 2008 Oglebay Institute's Towngate Theatre National Playwriting Contest, "Matches" was written by California resident Richard Manley, who attended the opening night performance last Friday.
 
The plot revolves around the up and down relationship between Derby Wright, a non-practicing poet silenced by grief over the murder of his wife, and Mary Scunzio, an award-winning advertising copywriter attempting to enjoy “The Good Life” alone.
 
After five years of seclusion in a cottage in rural France, Derby returns to New York and takes a sublet across the hall from Mary, who discovers that her new neighbor had published a volume of verse some years back. She tracks the book down, reads it and is unexpectedly affected by Derby's words
 
The "Matches" of the title refer to a quote from Virginia Woolf:  ".....matches struck unexpectedly in the dark." For Mary, Derby's poems are just such an illumination, causing her to reconsider her life's course, both professionally and personally.
 
A collection of well-drawn, often hilarious, supporting characters complement and complicate the basic plot.
 
Ryan Sears is hysterical as Ernie, a humorless, self-important contract lawyer, as is Shelby Garrett, who nearly steals the show as Christine, his garrulous feather-headed trophy wife. The pairing of the diminutive, bespectacled Sears and the tall, cool, Garrett is a stroke of comic genius on the part of director O'Leary.
 
The always-commendable John E. Reilly is in fine form as Max, Ernie's stern but warm-hearted uncle, and Annie Kopay is appropriately meddlesome as Lucille, Mary's publisher mother. From the moment these two meet, senior romance is heavy in the air.
 
Butch Maxwell gives the performance of his career as the troubled Derby, handling some of the plays most difficult dialogue with naturalistic ease. His transformation from a scruffy recluse to a nearly dapper member of the human race is accomplished seamlessly and believably. A scene in which Derby shamelessly baits the none-too-bright Christine is the comic high point of the show.
 
As Mary, Towngate veteran Arlene Merryman is nothing short of superb. Whether engaging in sarcastic badinage with her mother, alternately feuding and flirting with Derby or seriously ruminating about her life, Merryman is always spot on. She turns a brief drunk scene following her attendance at an awards banquet into a lesson in comic acting, and her emotional break-through scene with Derby at play's end brings a major catch to the throat.
 
Although the play does contain language which some might consider offensive, the occasional vulgarity is never gratuitous, the pithy dialogue always true to the characters who speak it.
 
Brainchild of Towngate founder Hal O'Leary, the Oglebay Institute National Playwriting Contest is an enormous asset to our community and sometimes it produces an exceptional winner. "Matches" is just such a winner.
 
“Matches” is part of Towngate Theatre’s season of community theatre, which is sponsored by Whiteside Cadillac Buick Pontiac Chevrolet GMC Trucks. It will be staged Friday and Saturday, January 23 and 24, at Towngate, 2118 Market Street, Wheeling. Curtain is at 8 p.m.

Call the Stifel Fine Arts Center at 304.242.7700 to reserve seats for “Matches.” For those buying seats at the door, Towngate’s box office opens one hour before all shows and can be reached at 304.233.4257.