photo by Warren Westura
Duncan Rogers and Bev Sheehan
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The Bickford Theatre opens its 10th season under the artistic direction of Eric Hafen with the Richard Dresser play, “The Last Days of Mickey and Jean,” which is co-produced with Playwright’s Theatre in Madison, New Jersey, and Old Castle Theatre in Bennington, Vermont. John Pietrowski, Playwright’s artistic director, also directs this production. Hafen was introduced to this play as Pietrowksi has a long term friendship with Dresser. Though this play was produced for the first time only last year, Dresser did some additional writing to make his characters fight for life throughout the show–living fast and loving hard, but somehow not dying young.
Though these are fictional Boston Irish mobsters and molls, some of the stories may have been ripped from the headlines, with names changed to protect whomever needs protecting. Hafen determined his 10th anniversary celebration would include playwrights produced on the Bickford stage and Duncan Rogers, who plays aging gangster Mickey, directed the Bickford production of Dresser’s “Rounding Third,” showing that there are many utility batters in New Jersey theatre. Jean is played by Bev Sheehan, and there are Irish eyes smiling and Irish sparks flying from the very beginning. Duncan and Bev are believable as a long-term couple who have shared much and hidden much from one another. The plot then thickens.
Mickey believes that someone is watching him. He and Jean went on the lam seven years ago and, as their relationship begins to fray, so do his nerves and their cover. Jean’s been on the museum tour of Europe, as they’ve traveled, and when Bobby offers Jean a seat in a crowded café, she begins to see that there may be more for her than a philandering man married three times to women other than her. Hmmmm. Bobby is quite taken with Jean–is he just another lonely Bostoner or is he a man with a story of his own? Oliver Wadsworth takes on very different roles in the course of this swiftly moving river of a one-act and you’d be in-Seine if you didn’t see the thread that connects them. Whether as Dr. Shockley, whom Mickey visits to find out whether his chronic hypochondria now has any basis, or as the Hedwig-esque drag maven Tinsel, Wadsworth has breadth and depth to his chameleon portrayals. This is an experienced cast who will guide you on a most surprising trip. It would be a shame for you to miss “The Last Days of Mickey and Jean.” You may be surprised at how it all ends up.
Tickets for the Bickford are available through October 9 via MorrisMuseum.org and while you’re there, be sure to visit the On the Road exhibit detailing 100 Years of Motorcycles in New Jersey. Parking was at a premium opening weekend, so be sure to see this and “Mickey and Jean” early and often. Just a short ride brings you to a true gem of Morris County in autumn. Perhaps I’ll see you there!