Still, you have to watch in fascination at what a horror this mother is, bossing around her daughter and teasing her about her wedding night. And it's clear from Jocasta's wistful expression that she wishes she could just accept her mother instead of being irritated by her. If the exchange sounds familiar, it's because Perlman has a good, honest ear for dialogue. Director Eric Schmiedl lets things develop in an unstrained manner. The comfortable cadence of Albers and Perrotta's conversation went a long way to make their discussion believable, despite the incredible story that was unfolding.
Mad scenes are always risky.
That's a minor failing, though, in a play that has a fresh and compelling point of view. Cleveland Play House's seventh annual Next Stage Festival of New Plays kicked off yesterday with the world premiere of Jocasta, by Kent playwright Sandra Perlman. This year, the festival includes two full world premiere productions as well as a workshop and four readings of new plays. Cleveland Play House officials read hundreds of scripts yearly, also approaching playwrights and using the theater's own associate artists to find material for the festival. The field is narrowed down to the top 15 to 20 choices some four months before the festival.