The New York Post
May 12, 2005 Thursday
‘MOON’ IS A BIT MISBEGOTTEN
by FRANK SCHECK
AS a combination love story and portrait of a pair of survivors of
the 1915 Armenian genocide, Richard Kalinoski’s “Beast on the Moon”
delivers both romantic banter and haunting commentary in a single
play.
Unfortunately, the former ultimately wins out, and the end result
resembles an Old World version of “Barefoot in the Park.”
Depicting the troubled but ultimately loving relationship between an
Armenian immigrant and his teenage bride, “Beast” tries too hard
while not saying enough.
The main characters are Aram (Omar Metwally), a survivor of the
massacre who has moved to Milwaukee to start life anew, and Seta
(Lena Georgas), his mail-order bride.
Unfortunately, Aram had actually requested a different woman, but
Seta is good-looking enough for him to forgive the mistake, one of
many misunderstandings between the two that will happen over the
following years.
These domestic squabbles and reconciliations, some having to do with
Seta’s befriending a precocious street urchin (Matt Borish), form the
crux of this comedy-drama, which runs 21/2 hours without delivering
much in the way of plot or even character development.
As you might imagine, the couple eventually forms a close bond and
comes to terms with their memories of their holocaust, and a happy
ending is achieved. Even the kid turns out all right, since his
elderly version (Louis Zorich) turns out to be the play’s avuncular
and not particularly essential narrator.
Director Larry Moss, the famed Hollywood acting coach whose students
include Hilary Swank, has elicited deeply felt performances by the
two leads (he’s less effective with the tyke), but the play never
overcomes its strained attempts to blend romantic comedy and deeper
themes.
—
BEAST ON THE MOON
Century Center for the Performing Arts, 111 E. 15th St. (212)
239-6200.