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<i>Have You Seen Us?</i> - 6:55PM on 12/08/2009
Sam Waterston is some sort of national treasure, and Athol Fugard’s Have You Seen Us? has a compelling premise, but ultimately, I found the play to be an interesting torso rather than a fully realized drama. As now written, the situation turns on a nearly nonexistent dime: the scene of confrontation between the bigoted character Waterston portrays and the old Jewish man who forgives him is far too short to be believable. We need to know more about Solly’s story to understand why he would forgive so quickly right now he is a cypher. We need to see Parsons grapple with Solly about the hatred that has consumed him for six decades before he finally opens his heart to such a simple act of generosity. Even an actor of Waterston’s exemplary talents can’t create something that is barely there. Still, “Have You Seen Us” is a play worthy of our attention. It is too short, the pacing is too slow, but the Long Wharf is to be commended and Fugard and Waterston celebrated for their commitment to live theater worthy of the name. “Have you seen us?” Fugard has Waterston ask at the end, referring, incorrectly, to a postcard about missing persons in his hand. Surely the answer is not “I think I have,” talking about his experience, but rather “I think you have,” talking about ours. They are all missing persons. A thought-provoking night of theater. David Katz, artistic director, Hat City Music Theater, Inc. www.museoffiretheplay.org
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