"Rocket to the Moon" (at Theatre at St. Clement's, 423 West 46th Street through March 28, 2015)

 

 

 Ned Eigenberg and Katie McClellan
Photo: Carol Rosegg

A program note reminds us how the socio-economic malaise that afflicted countless Americans during the 1930s Great Depression Era was not so dissimilar to that which many are facing today. Clifford Odets' Rocket to the Moon is set in 1938 when there was an early glimmer of light for prosperity for the masses and maybe with it the potential for individual renewal.

We may safely assume that this play about one timid man's fear of creating a new life for himself is not really all that dated. One of the more formidable, socially conscious and lauded playwrights of his era, Odets had changed his focus in 1938 from the far more political plays that brought him early fame to embracing themes on a more personal nature with Rocket to the Moon leading this trend.

Not as highly regarded as many in Odets canon, Rocket to the Moon is essentially a romantic allegory about a man with principles, but without much pluck. Happily, this play has earned more respect over the years without dethroning such stunning earlier works as Waiting For Lefty and Awake and Sing , or diminishing our continued affection for his probably most popular and successful The Country Girl

It is good to report that an empowering thrust of energy, mainly the result of some very fine acting under the sturdy direction of Dan Wackerman, has helped to navigate a safe and sound landing for this Rocket at the Theater at St.Clement's courtesy of the Peccadillo Theater Co (in association with La Femme Theatre Productions).

All of the action takes place in the waiting room of a dentist's office (designed by Harry Feiner with an eye for the basic necessities of this charmless location by) during a sweltering summer heat-wave. There is, as expected from Odets, an in-and-out flow of recognizable, by right of their being typical, working class Manhattan-ites. Best of all, there is the constant exchange of wonderfully down-to-earth, humorously naturalistic dialogue that is Odets' forte. To read the entire review please go to http://curtainup.com/rockettothemoon15.html

(212) 352 - 3101 or OvationTix.com
Tickets: $75.00
Performances: Tuesday at 7 pm, Wednesdays at 2 pm and 7 pm, Thursdays at 8 pm, Fridays at 8 pm, Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm, and Sundays at 3 pm.
From 02/10/15 Opened 02/23/15 Ends 03/28/15