The Last Romance
by Joe DiPietro
Directed by Alan Knoll
Insight Theatre Company
March 3, 2018
Tommy Nolan, Joneal Joplin
Photo by John Lamb
Insight Theatre Company
Now onstange at the Kranzberg black box, Insight Theatre Company’s latest production is Joe DiPietro’s romantic comedy-drama The Last Romance. A look at love, life, loss, and opera, the show boasts a top-notch cast of veteran St. Louis performers. It’s a small-ish play, with a close focus on well-drawn characters and a somewhat melancholy air.
The story follows 80-year-old Ralph Bellini (Joneal Joplin), a widower and lifelong opera lover in New York City who once had an audition with the Met. He lives with his sister Rose (Maggie Ryan) in a small apartment and has a relatively routine, predictable life until one day when he spots Carol (Tommy Nolan) at a local dog park and makes an effort to get to know her. Carol, for her part, is initially reluctant to engage with Ralph, and she’s got a few secrets she’s not eager to share. Rose, in the meantime, has her own issues that make her a little more protective of Ralph than may be expected. Ralph is also accompanied by memories of his past, represented by The Young Man (Clark Sturdevant), who appears in flashbacks and fantasy moments singing a selection of classic operatic arias, usually as a reprentation of the younger Ralph. It’s a simple, character-focused story with humor, music, and a good amount of reflective drama, played well by the excellent cast.
Joneal Joplin is, as usual, excellent as Ralph. With his prolific theatrical career, Joplin can be expected to turn in a strong performance, and he does so here as the persistent, personable, somewhat regretful Ralph. His chemistry is strong with Nolan’s evasive and also compelling Carol, as well as the equally strong Ryan in a poignant performance as the overprotective Rose. Sturdevant is in excellent voice and has a strong presence as the Young Man, as well. The real heart of this play is in its relationships, and all of the cast members work together well to present a touching, believable emotional journey. There’s also a memorable appearance from Yorkshire terrier Oscar as Carol’s dog, Peaches.
The atmosphere here is at once realistic and fantastical. The set by Landon Shaw represents the New York park setting well, as well as Ralph and Rose’s small apartment and a few other locations as needed. There’s also an ethereal air lent by Geordy Van Es’s lighting and Robin Weatherall’s sound design that adds to the flashback sequences and musical interludes. Teresa Doggett’s costume design is appropriately on point, as well, and director Alan Knoll’s staging is intimate and personal, effectively showcasing the insightful script and excellent cast.
The Last Romance isn’t a big, flashy play, and the situations presented aren’t flashy or spectacular either. These are more of the authentic, “every day” moments of a long life full of regret as well as joy. The alternately melancholy and hopeful air is well-portrayed in the music, as well. There’s a great cast here, of great local performers, telling a story with a lot about which to relate, no matter your age, and even though it’s not a musical, music a vital part of this story. It’s well worth seeing, and hearing.
Maggie Ryan, Joneal Joplin
Photo by John Lamb
Insight Theatre Company
Insight Theatre Company is presenting The Last Romance at the Kranzberg Arts Center until March 18, 2018.
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