FEW WORDS SPEAK VOLUMES IN 'MAN'.Men and women have enough problems talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to each other. But in Yasmina Reza's play ``The Unexpected Man,'' on stage at the Geffen Playhouse The Geffen Playhouse (or the Geffen) is a not for profit performing arts theater in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Originally named the Westwood Playhouse, UCLA purchased the property in 1993. UCLA's then chancellor, Charles E. , the two protagonists - a male novelist and his female admirer - hardly converse at all during their time together as they share a railway compartment on a trip from Paris to Frankfurt. Instead, their internal monologues The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. Please help [ improve the introduction] to meet Wikipedia's layout standards. You can discuss the issue on the talk page. are delivered to the audience. On one level, the play functions as a meditation on a writer's need for an audience and the reader's need to connect with an author whose words have touched him or her. ``The Unexpected Man's'' charms and strengths, though, arise from its observations of men and women. The play, I think, would not work any other way. ``Sleeping with women is bitter,'' the novelist (Christopher Lloyd
Christopher Allen Lloyd (born October 22, 1938) is a three-time Emmy Award-winning American character actor. ) spits out in his opening monologue monologue, an extended speech by one person only. Strindberg's one-act play The Stronger, spoken entirely by one person, is an extreme example of monologue. . The word ``bitter'' is one that punctuates much of the author's ruminations. ``Who knows anything about anyone's life?'' he asks a moment later. And then, ``I can't remember limping into the present.'' Finally, after jumping from one topic to another, his thoughts sputter out. Sitting opposite him is an attractive, stylish, middle-age women (Holland Taylor) who has recognized him as her favorite author. In fact, she is reading his latest book, ``The Unexpected Man,'' which resides in her handbag. She wonders how she can approach him. ``My desires have always outstripped what actually happens,'' she says with a sigh, expressing a theme of the evening. Reza began ``The Unexpected Man,'' which has been translated by playwright Christopher Hampton from the French, before she wrote ``Art,'' the worldwide hit that divided critics, some seeing the argument by three friends over the value of a work of art - an all-white painting - as much ado about nothing Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare. First published in 1600, it was likely first performed in the winter of 1598-1599,[1] and it remains one of Shakespeare's most enduring plays on stage. . She then returned to ``The Unexpected Man,'' which was a hit in Paris before moving to London and then New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . Like ``Art,'' this play has an intellectual sheen sheen n. 1. Glistening brightness; luster: the sheen of old satin in candlelight. 2. Splendid attire. 3. A glossy surface given to textiles. , but Reza's plays resonate res·o·nate v. res·o·nat·ed, res·o·nat·ing, res·o·nates v.intr. 1. To exhibit or produce resonance or resonant effects. 2. more in the process than in what is said - and that is what attracts audiences. As the two travel together, their thoughts pingpong off the same subjects, hitting them from different angles and with varying force. The impeccably dressed author is, as you might guess, authoritative, with pronouncements, self-recriminations and cutting observations. When he does notice his traveling companion at all, it's to remark that she's odd for not reading - though he's not. She, though always returning to her fixation on the author, is more reflective. She thinks about how her now-dead friend didn't like the author's work but was like a character in one of his novels, about how once her beauty was her entree into life but how she now has grown timid. ``The Unexpected Man'' may not be an overly eventful e·vent·ful adj. 1. Full of events: an eventful week. 2. Important; momentous: an eventful decision. or profound journey, but Reza provides some laughs and insights into human behavior to make it enjoyable. And Taylor and Lloyd are the perfect traveling companions. ``THE UNEXPECTED MAN'' Where: Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood. When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 4 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday; through Oct. 21. Tickets: $30 to $46. Call (310) 208-5454. Our rating: Three and one half stars CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Christopher Lloyd and Holland Taylor are strangers on a train in ``The Unexpected Man,'' on stage through Oct. 21 at the Geffen Playhouse. |
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