GUEST REVIEW: "THE RECEPTIONIST" AN INTERESTING CONTRIBUTION TO CENTENARY STAGE SEASON

By Jane Primerano          

Office politics. Office gossip. And some interesting twists make The Recptionist an interesting contribution to the Centenary Stage season.

To say the least.

It opened Friday, Feb. 21, in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Center, and will run through Sunday, March 9.

Many of Centenary Stage Company’s productions feature large casts and lots of quick dialogue and scene changes. The Receptionist has four characters and a very “office” set: coffee maker, Cosmopolitan on the bench, a pathetic plant. But it’s the perfect setting for the play.

The receptionist of the title is Beverly Wilkins, played by Mary McLain (left), a veteran of regional theater and of Centenary, although she hasn’t been back to Hackettstown in some time. She brings a perfect frazzledness and motherly touch as she fields phone calls that run toward the personal rather than professional.

Her co-worker, Lorraine Taylor, is played by Gemma Berg (far left), who is making her Centenary debut but who has sterling credentials here and in the UK. Lorraine is the chronically late manager-type whose disaster of a love life dominates her conversations—haven’t we all worked with a Lorraine?

The boss, Edward Raymond is played by Eli Ganias (right, center), a Centenary veteran whom you will probably recognize from parts on Law & Order and L&O Criminal Intent. He opens the play with a poetic take on fly fishing. The entire play doesn’t run quite that way.

Visiting from the mysterious Central Office is Martin Dart, played by Centenary’s own Christopher J. Young (above, right). Chris is general manager of Centenary Stage and an adjunct faculty member of the theatre department. It’s great to see him onstage. Although it is also great to “see” Chris running things behind the scenes too. This play is the first time this reviewer has seen Chris clean-shaven and wearing a suit.

The four are a perfect ensemble cast, playing off each other as if it really is their professional life. The Receptionistis directed by Centenary Stage Artistic Director Carl Wallnau, so you know it holds together perfectly.

The plot, frequently interrupted by Beverly’s phone calls from her friend who takes up with married men and her daughter who has a crisis-a-day, apparently, appears to be a day-at-the-office story, but—what exactly do they do?

Around Lorraine’s announcing she’s in love with a narcissist and her flirting with Martin, we start to get an idea about what they do, but it isn’t what we originally thought. . .Not at all.

Haley E Wallenfeldt created a simple but perfect set and Jolene Richardson dressed the cast in line with each of their jobs. The pocket square was a nice touch for Martin Dart.

Get tickets to The Receptionist if you want an evening you won’t expect but will enjoy. And remember: what happens at the Central Office, stays at the Central Office.

And, a PS here: Congratulations to Chris and Emily on their incredibly adorable Dexter!