My love affair with Ronan Noone started way back when I was a starry-eyed college sophomore at my very first American College Theatre Festival.  Fresh from the high of competing in the festival with Stonehill College’s rendition of Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury, I was replete with enthusiasm for the art form- and ran head first into Noone’s debut of The Lepers of Baile Baiste. So moved, was I, that I became a life-long enthusiast of the piece, toting it as one of my favorite new plays.  It is still widely discussed among my circle as once the most inspiring theatrical moments of our young lives.  It was with that much expectation that I entered the Boston Playwright’s Theatre to see Noone’s newest: Little Black Dress.

I will admit that I came with almost impossible-to meet-standards about how wonderful this play was going to be.  How could the cast compare to the fantastic cast of Lepers that I had seen?  How could a story be as inspiring?  I am pleased, no, delighted to say that though I was not as emotionally ravaged as I was as a college sophomore, I really and truly enjoyed Little Black Dress.  I was not disappointed.

I must start out by saying that Noone shines in his character development.  The show opens with a soul-baring monologue by the leading player, Amy, (played with sophistication and nuance by Marianna Bassham) where she explains the state of her life after marrying her high school sweetheart almost two decades before.  “Fantasies,” she says, “if you hold them for much longer than 19 years, they become regrets.”  Those ominous words open the audience up to the last few weeks of a woman dying of boredom and desperation, and the circle of those closest to her as she brings her life to an unexpected climax.  Amy is joined, in her fantasy world, by her husband Jimmy (Jeremiah Kissel), a drunk who’s heart has hardened past the point of redemption, her son Jimmy Jr. (Alex Pollock) who spends his days smoking and playing video games, and her son’s best friend Charly (Karl Baker Olson) who has made a name for himself in town- with the ladies- by offering his services as a male prostitute.  Upon the urgings of Amy, who Charly also happens to be sleeping with, he pressures Jimmy Jr. to become involved in the sex trade by explaining the love and passion he has for women.  Besotted with love and the change in routine, Amy and Charly plot to move away together to Miami beach to spend their lives together living in hotels and enjoying carnal pleasures- but when Jimmy Sr. finds out his wife is finally leaving him, Amy’s fantasies come to a crushing halt, leaving the whole family changed forever.

Director Ari Edelson is at his best for this production and his passion for the material shows.  He led the cast into the depth of each well-written character.  Never could I have imagined that I would love and adore a male prostitute as much as I loved Olson’s portrayal of Charly.  He was enchanting in a heroic 1950’s way.  I wanted to embrace him.  It was completely plausible that every woman in town would be in love with his warmth and sweetness.  In contrast, but equally loveable was Pollock’s Jimmy Jr.  He embodied a young man that every one of us knows, the bumble-headed loser with a heart of gold.  He alone brought tears to my eyes at the show’s climax.  Kissel, as Jimmy Sr. gave a harsh, at times painful performance.  I wanted to find even one tiny kernel of him that I could empathize with, but couldn’t come away with a single word.  Noone didn’t give him much of a chance with his callous words and cruel motivations, but Kissel didn’t fight against that at all, leaving me to just blatantly disregard the character’s worth- which I think was the only thing that detracted from the story.

Jon Savage’s set was a spot-on rendition of the lower-class chic farmhouse, from the drab and dirty couch to the old fashioned stovetop.  Lighting by Nikki Pierce complimented the stage nicely, and the actors worked well with their lighting, something that can make-or break a performance.  Overall, it was an excellent use of the space.  Boston Playwright’s Theatre has done nothing but impress me every time I’ve had the pleasure of participating as an audience member in one of their productions.  A kind staff and inventive space really make the evening a nice one to share.  I’m looking forward to seeing The Salt Girl in November.

Amy and Jimmy Sr. share a tense moment after dinner.