(l to r) Amy Hill, Aaron Blakely, Pamela Reed and R. Hamilton Wright in Seattle Repertory Theatre’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Photo: Alabastro Photography |
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf
Through May 18
The explosive, immersive, three hour drama, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, by
Edward Albee is on stage now at Seattle Rep. If you thought August: Osage County was caustic, you ain’t
seen nuthin’ yet, sister. This play will blister your paint and warp your wood.
The games played by George and Martha make Russian roulette look silly.
This is an American classic that practically became classic
the minute Albee stopped writing it in 1962. It won the 1963 Tony Award for
Best Play. You may know it best from the 1966 movie starring Richard Burton,
Elizabeth Taylor, George Segal and Sandy Dennis. Here, the four dynamic talents
are R. Hamilton Wright, Pamela Reed, Aaron Blakely and Amy Hill.
This production is lovingly mounted by director Braden
Abraham, with delightful set by Matthew Smucker with massive help from the
Seattle Rep scene techs. During the two intermissions, you might take time to
look at the academic flotsam and jetsam collected on multiple floor to ceiling
bookshelves, as if jammed in there over years. Lighting by L.B. Morse and sound
by Matt Starritt perfectly accompany the evening.