A SLANT OF SUN
nytheatre.com review by Scott Brooks
August 15, 2002
A Slant of Sun is a one
woman performance bravely undertaken by Beth Tascione who is as
instantly likeable as she is easy on the eyes. She tells the story of
her newborn Jeremy, and what happens when she and her husband discover
at age two that there is something wrong with his behavior and
interaction skills. Lump in throat, they take Jeremy to some doctors who
eventually diagnose him with Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Mom’s
love and strength never waiver as she regales us with tales of how she
distracts him from withdrawing through constant distraction and puzzle
making.If this sounds a little dry for an evening of theatre that’s because it is. For all of Tascione’s unwavering energy the piece felt rehearsed rather than discovered, like a story being told over a cup of tea. The language at times seems contrived and rambling, "Like someone reading from a book," I thought. After examining the program, I discovered why. It basically was. The play was adapted from a memoir of the same name by Tascione herself. A noteworthy task any day, but that is why the piece feels safely told after the fact; remembered rather than experienced. I wanted to like this play, because of the actress, so badly I almost gave myself a nosebleed, but alas, not this time.
