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Theatre Review: 'Unexpected Man' is expected delight
 Tulsa World (Final Home Edition), Page D4 of Arts
By KAREN SHADE World Scene Writer
07/04/2005

Mr. Parsky said it aptly when he asked the question, "Is there anyone who knows how to read 'The Unexpected Man?' "

He is a character in Yasmina Reza's 1998 play that places him on a train with perhaps the only woman who might be able to answer that question.

He becomes her unexpected traveling companion, and "The Unexpected Man" as performed by Heller Theatre, becomes a subtle and surprisingly effective take on a human's powerful drive to connect with others.

The characters in "Art," which is Reza's best-known play in the United States, barely say anything to one another until the end of the piece, but it is refreshing to watch the interior drama unfold as Parsky, simply identified by the author as the Man, and Martha, the Woman, search themselves about their curiosity for one another.

Paul Parsky (Charles D. Whitson) and Martha (Liz Masters) share a train ride in the Heller Theatre production of “The Unexpected Man.”
STEPHEN HOLMAN / Tulsa World

The play starts as the train is making its way from Paris toward Frankfurt. Parsky (Charles Whitson), a celebrated genius who has written a novel titled "The Unexpected Man," contemplates when he turned into a bitter critic of life, especially his.

"You're a snob, old boy," he tells himself in his opening monologue.

Martha (Liz Masters) sits uncomfortably opposite, and when she shares her thoughts with the audience, she is focused on a painting, dwelling on the connection between strangers.

"What is it they're both looking at? The familiar course of time. That's all they're looking at, time taking its familiar course," she says and sinks into the fact that she has just lost a good friend.

Both Whitson and Masters, who reprise their roles from Heller's 2003 incarnation of "The Unexpected Man," remain on top of their roles and make subtlety -- or as subtle as theater will allow -- and understated strength the core of the production, which is directed by Jenny Jackson.

With some unanticipated humor, the play doesn't get bogged down with overtly stylized repartee. It all balances out nicely, and in about an hour.

Simply staged and trimmed in preparation for entry into the Oklahoma Community Theatre Association festival competition later this week, "The Unexpected Man" is sure to do well and is representative of the solid work for which Heller Theatre is known.

"The Unexpected Man" continues at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Heller Theatre, 5328 S. Wheeling Ave. For reservations, call 746-5065.

Karen Shade 581-8334 karen.shade@tulsaworld.com

This site sponsored by Heller Theatre Council.
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