Examiner.com review of THE COLLECTION

Ryan Johnson reviewed THE COLLECTION in examiner.com

Harold Pinter is a difficult playwright to pull off. With his ambiguities, subtleties and pregnant silences, there’s just too many things that could go wrong in a production of his works, so when Hyde Park Theater decided to open their season with one of his works, theater fans were right to have some doubts. Thankfully, this production was in the able hands of widely acclaimed director Ken Webster, winner of more B. Iden Payne and Austin Critics’ Table Awards than almost any other person in town. Instead of picking from one of the playwright’s many intense dramas, Webster and company instead decided on one his darker comedies, The Collection. This story of two couples, and the confusion that arises from a love affair that may or may not have happened, is told not just in words, but also in long, lingering looks, startling moments of silence, and some marvelous physicality, and with a talented group of actors at his disposal, Webster is able to pull it off beautifully.
Hyde Park has a habit of finding some of the best actors in Austin to grace its stage, and their latest production is no exception. Ken Webster himself stars as James, a serious, stoic gentleman who has just discovered from his wife that she had an affair with another man, dress designer Bill, played by Joey Hood, seen previously in the acclaimed drama Killer Joe, as well as Hyde Park Theater’s bombs in your mouth. He plays the character with modest style and grace, as well as the healthy swagger of a successful young man. The wife, Stella, also a dress designer, played by Kelsey King, winner of multiple B. Iden Payne and Austin Critics’ Table Awards, is seductive without being too sexual, spending most of her time trying to come to terms with her admission of adultery. The stand performance out of the cast, however, comes from a character completely independent of these two couples, Harry, played by Ian Manners, a regular in Shakespeare works across the city, making his first trip to Hyde Park with this production, whose hilarious cantankerous old coot elicits laughter whenever he takes the stage.
What you get with a trip to see The Collection is the combination of one of Austin’s best directors, with one of the world's best playwrights, with some of the top acting talent the capital city has to offer, and the result is a sight to behold. The show will have audiences laughing, crying, even sweating with anticipation throughout its runtime, and you won’t want to miss a second of it. The play contains quite a bit of sexual conversation, and some suggestive themes, but there’s nothing so obscene that it should keep any teenager away who wants to get a lesson in classic theater. For those wanting to know about the theater of Pinter, or for those who simply enjoy a nice play, come on down to Hyde Park Theater to experience one of the greatest productions of the week.
The Collection is playing until October 10th at Hyde Park Theater. For directions, tickets, or information on their spectacular upcoming season, be sure to visit their website at hydeparktheatre.org.