Two wounded Souls Find Balm in “Tally’s Folly”
By Skip Sheffield
The ironic joke in the title “Tally’s Folly” is that what
transpires in this Pulitzer Prize-winning memory play is not folly at all, but
amazing good fortune of two kindred spirits finding their destiny.
Lanford Wilson’s uplifting 1979 work “Tally’s Folly” has
settled in for a run through Nov. 11 at Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St. , West
Palm Beach
Lanford Wilson broke with some theater traditions to create
this two-character “waltz.” The male partner, Matt Friedman (newcomer Brian
Wallace) breaks the “fourth wall” by addressing the audience directly at the
outset, and explains exactly what will happen within the space of just 97
minutes.
“We have 97 minutes to change lives,” Matt explains.
The female partner is Sally Tally (Erin Joy Schmidt). Sally
is the 31-year-old “spinster” daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Lebanon , Missouri
Sally had a brief fling a year ago with Matt, who dropped in
from the “big city” of St. Louis .
Matt and Sally could not be less alike on the surface. He is a Lithuanian
Jewish immigrant scarred by the war. Sally is from blue-blood Southern ruling
class.
The lovingly referred to “folly” is an ornate but crumbling
boathouse, constructed by Sally’s eccentric uncle a generation ago. Now the
boathouse is in ruins, but it is the designated meeting place of the wayward
lovers.
As Matt tells us, the boathouse, created by ingenious set
designer Michael Amico, is more like a third character. We will see why as
stubborn Matt, a 42-year-old accountant with a mind like a computer, works away
on reluctant, insecure Sally.
Like Matt, Sally is wounded, both physically and
emotionally. She works as a nurse caring for wounded soldiers but her own
wounds are untreated. As the layers of her defenses are peeled back we see the healing
glimmer of hope that real love provides.
“Tally’s Folly” had a flurry of activity after it won the
Pulitzer Prize (I saw a couple different productions), then inexplicably it was
put on the shelf. Like the perennial classic “The Fantasticks” early this year,
“Tally’s Folly” is meant to be seen. This production is lovingly realized by
director J. Barry Lewis, his cast and crew, including lighting designer Ron
Burns and sound designer Matt Corey. These last two elements are crucial, as
the story is set on July 4 in the year 1944. It is a happy Independence Day
indeed.
Tickets are $55 ($10 students) and may be reserved by
calling 561-514-4042.
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