ADMISSIONS Seattle Public Theater Review 2/1/2020

ADMISSIONS

Seattle Public Theater 

Seattle, WA
2/1/2020

 (Photo Credit:  John Ulman)

Greetings,



I was looking forward to finally seeing my first production from the Seattle Public Theater - "Admissions". Located at Green Lake in Seattle, the cold February evening kept some of the early arrivals waiting in their cars in the nearby parking lot before the doors to the theatre opened just before 7pm.



Once inside, the house opened a bit after 7pm, and the capacity crowd started to take their seats. For those who have never been like myself, the theatre space is shaped sort of like half a football (had to put that in there being that it's Super Bowl Sunday). It's more rectangular than square, with a wide main seating area facing the stage and two other smaller seating areas on either end.



"Admissions" (by Joshua Harmon as directed by Annie Lareau) tells the ever-complicated tale of race, racism, white privilege, family dysfunction, and social justice (or injustice) through the eyes of a three-person family. Sherri Rosen-Mason (Anne Allgood), Bill Mason (Kevin McKeon), and their son Charlie Luther Mason (Benjamin McCormack) spend the entirety of the play struggling with what is the "right" college admissions choice for Charlie (after having been deferred by his first choice of an Ivy League school).



Ginnie Peters (Macall Gordon) is the mother of Charlie's friend who gets accepted into the very same Ivy League school that Charlie was deferred from. The issue of his friend being a person of color then becomes a point of contention for all involved in the play from many varying points of view. The issue of diversity is also explored with Roberta (Barbara Lindsay) who works at the private prep school where Charlie attends, and Bill and Sherri work (in positions of power I might add).

 (Photo Credit:  John Ulman)

"Admissions" doesn't have the answers and never pretends to. It delivers both sides of the issues it explores in rapid raw succession. I found myself initially wondering when the play would find its footing. The first scene in the admissions office between Sherri and Roberta laid the foundation slowly for these two characters. Upon revisiting a second and final time, their scenes worked much better.



But once Charlie let loose with his speech about why he didn't get accepted into his college of choice, the play really took off and never let up. It was emotional, upsetting, and thought provoking all at the same time.



Benjamin McCormack was brilliant as Charlie. He really captured the 180-degree turn his teenage character makes during the show. Kevin McKeon as the father Bill also effortlessly drew the audience in to his perspective on his son and the situation(s) he created for himself. Anne as the mother Sherri was also equally mesmerizing as she struggled with her own identity concerning race relations, diversity, and privilege.



"Admissions" was incredibly well done. I left the theatre pondering the issues that were raised and I'm honestly still thinking about them now as I type this. This is one of the signs of a great production.



If, "Admissions" is any indicator of the caliber of shows the Seattle Public Theater puts on, then saying I'm impressed is a vast understatement.



See you at the theatre!




Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts
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Eclecticartszine AT gmail DOT com



Special Thanks: Rachel - thank you so much for the opportunity!



"Admissions" runs through February 23rd. Buy your tickets here:  TICKETS!



SEATTLE PUBLIC THEATER OFFICIAL SITE