Time Stands Still, a play by Donald Margulies

January 10, 2010
Manhattan Theater Club/preview
The Samuel J. Friedman Theater, (formerly The Biltmore)

Time Stands Still
Donald Margulies

Cast:
Laura Linney-Sarah Goodwin
Brian D’Arcy James-James Dodd
Eric Borgosian-Richard Erlich
Alicia Silverstone-Mandy Bloom

photos by the author

I have been a member of The Manhattan Theater Club for about 15 years. The subscription gets me into the theater five times a year and new playwrights are featured; many go on to win awards; I joined initially because my cousin Donald Margulies’ work is often featured. He won the Pulitzer Prize in drama in 2000.

This was a very special day as not only did I see his latest play, but I got to spend time with him after. He came to the theater after an interview/talk at The New York Times and greeted drama students from my husband’s school. After, we went to a nearby bistro to catch up.

I enjoy works about love and relationships, and we all know there are many forms. Sarah and James return to their Brooklyn loft from the war in Iraq. They are journalists, she, a photographer, who has has been severely wounded. They are visited by their friend Richard, Sarah’s boss, who comes by with a new girlfriend; a much younger balloon-bearing Mandy, who serves as a catalyst; in her innocence, she appears to ground the others who have been dealing with the world’s great issues. she is the one who is most in touch with her feelings and she begins to rub off on the rest.

As the author describes, this is a love story on many levels, between lovers, between friends, between people and professions, their beliefs and dreams.

There is always a moral, a bottom line, and sticking point, a polemic: is it moral to photograph the pain of others and not intercede? If you put down the camera and save the starving, suffering, fill in the blank–with animal, war-injured, victim; would, you, could you, and if not, why not? And if why not, can you live with yourself?

Where is the line drawn between obligation and observation?

Richard and Mandy marry and have a baby. But where are Sarah and James going as a couple? Away from the war zone without the external tumult and tension, new tensions are welling from within. James wants to be married and settle down; It’s complicated by the revelation that Sarah’s “fixer” (translator and guide during the war) became her lover after he lost his family. And then he was killed. Sarah suffers over this in angst and guilt.

James persists in his desires to mend and move on.

But can Sarah?

You decide.

(I won’t spill the beans here, but write to me and we’ll discuss it)

Signing autographs for the students

Manhattan Theater Club

As you can see, another play is going to be performed: Collected Stories. One of my favorites.

>>Visit here;

>>>>Read about the playwright here.

>>>>>>Video interview

Good review from West Coast opening.

reply welshdoug wrote on Jan 20, ’10 He’s your cousin, right? Seems like talent is spread all over your family.

reply sousonne wrote on Jan 20, ’10 How exciting for everyone!!!  I’m so glad that you were able to go and how wonderful to be able to spend time with him!

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jan 20, ’10 Yes, 6 years younger. I still see him in little corduroy pants with curly black hair. 🙂

reply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Jan 20, ’10 I was wondering about this great event with your cousin. This sounds like a great plot with many hidden layers? Thanks for sharing…and how nice of your cousin to mingle with the students.

reply starfishred wrote on Jan 20, ’10 TO BAD I AM SOOO FAR AWAY 😉

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jan 21, ’10 Next time parachute down on your way coming or going!

reply starfishred wrote on Jan 21, ’10 sanssouciblogs said Next time parachute down on your way coming or going! okay or tell him to do a tour down my way-lol

reply josfreshlybrewedmood wrote on Jan 21, ’10 sanssouciblogs said Where is the line drawn between obligation and observation? That is a good question, one I need to think on. How cool that the literary gene runs in your family.  Soon, we will see pics of you signing autographs.

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jan 21, ’10 I’ll just be happy to have it finally done!! THANK YOU!

reply dianeoart wrote on Jan 22, ’10 Seems like a very interesting play… the topic is so close to life.  Thanks for sharing this with us.

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jan 29, ’10, edited on Jan 29, ’10 Here is the link to the New York Times review; the play just opened, I had seen it in preview. Way to go! http://theater.nytimes.com/2010/01/29/theater/reviews/29time.html?sq=Time%20Stands%20Still&st=cse&scp=1&pagewanted=all

reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Feb 2, ’10 According to my cousin, the author’s brother: comment made after seeing the opening of the play: “Opening great. Terrific performance. Star-studded crowd:Alan Alda, David Byrne, Brooke Shields, Stiller & Meara, Vincent DiNofrio. Amazing!”