The Freedom of the City at MuCCC

 When my friend (and also actress and former Concentus singer) Katharine Sanford posted on her Facebook page an invitation to see The Freedom of the City, by Brian Friel, I emailed to ask if she’d be in it. She replied that she had one of the lead roles, and that it is an incredibly written show. I’ve seen four other plays in NYC by Friel, who has been compared to Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller, and who died just a few years ago: Molly Sweeney and Faith Healer, which I enjoyed, and Philadelphia, Here I Come! and Give Me Your Answer, Do!, which I did not. Maybe this would be good, since it didn’t have an exclamation mark in the title…

Tickets on-line were only $7, so I attended the Saturday matinee, knowing I could always leave at intermission. This was my first time in this space on Atlantic Avenue, and I loved the creative re-use of a church, although it was a bit disorienting, since the seating had been flipped 90 degrees. MuCCC accommodates around 80 people in a mix of real seats and two pews in four rows. There were only about two dozen in the audience (and many of them seemed to know each other), so I had a prime seat in the middle of the back row.

I was astounded at the quality of the production. The director made very efficient use of the small stage and floor surrounding it, as well as the balcony. Most of the accents were very good, especially those of the three main characters, who were all excellent in their roles, including Katharine. And she hadn’t led me astray – the play itself was very moving. Even though you know from the start how events will unfold, the final scene is shocking and disturbing. And you can’t help but think of all of the recent police shootings of innocent people in our own country. And the fact that most of these murderers faced no consequences.

Sadly, there’s only one more chance to see this production – Sunday at 7:30. DVC is a curious little company, founded by a cohort of Wilson Magnet High School students, if I understood the introduction correctly. Many of the actors seemed to be alumni, and one is even a current student. I have a feeling that I’m going to try to see their next presentation – American Skin – a series of monologues (apparently some of the writers were in the audience) – during Fringe Festival…