by Miryam Gordon - SGN A&E Writer

Love Song
ArtsWest
Through February 20

Are there new ways to talk about love? The ArtsWest production of Love Song by John Kolvenbach might be a new way. Love Song seems to say that love can enliven your life - even if it's made up. That could be one way to look at the unrequited love affairs you had as a young teen, the ones where you were sure the boy/girl at the center of your desire had never heard of you. But wasn't it fun to desire him/her? All that longing, all that angst, all that life.

Beane (Christopher Zinovitch) is a lonely, isolated gent, clearly socially maladapted, with only his sister and brother-in-law to look after him. His sister Joan (Heather Hawkins) and brother-in-law Harry (Nick DeSantis) are used to his unique way of looking at the world, although they periodically find new psychological doodads to try on him to see if it would do any good.

Beane comes home to his virtually empty apartment one day, and finds a woman (Cindy Bradder) has broken into it. The thief is rather upset with him for living so sparely and simply, so she basically takes everything he has. However, Beane finds something very compelling about her, and starts daydreaming about her, fantasizing about her, and falling in love with her.

Beane is transformed. He tells his sister he has "found" someone. We see the thief, Molly, also becoming transformed by their relationship. Because of Beane's transformation, Joan and Harry change their own relationship for the better. Beane's happiness rubs off on them.

The big problem, though, is that Molly doesn't really exist - Beane made her up. Still, even a made-up love has the power to change his life. He becomes garrulous and interested in life in ways he never exhibited before. He watched life from outside (enigmatically describing that he took his apartment door to the park and looked at people through its peephole!) rather than engaging in life's interactions. So, should he give up his made-up love or accept the rejuvenation of his options?

Directed by Kate Witt, this is a smart and funny and tender play. Zinovitch is marvelous as Beane, both the quiet, withdrawn part and the enthused and talkative part. Hawkins and DeSantis handle the humorous modern married couple with competence, though Hawkins could be asked to modulate her "nasty professional woman" persona a bit, especially in the beginning. Later, Hawkins' compassion for her brother adds the right notes of support. Bradder has an appealing brashness in her role as the thief.

The stage is split into the modern married couple's apartment and Beane's empty little hovel. Set by Dan Schuy is consistent with his meticulous craftsmanship. Apparently, though, some audience members initially felt afraid for the actors when one of the walls started falling (deliberately) down. Lighting designer Josh Randall has fun with flickering lamplight and fantasy sequences.

So, is this something new to say? The ending definitely might cause post-play disagreement regarding how the story is resolved. For more information, go to www.artswest.org or call 206-938-0339.

Comments on reviews go to sgncritic@gmail.com.

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