Theater Online - New York Theater Reviews

"Dreams of Friendly Aliens," Daniel Damiano's gem of a play, has its feet planted solidly in the reality of a family mired in adversity. Yet, along with the pathos which the characters so genuinely evoke, a great deal of humor beautifully balances an evening of theater encompassing a wide range of emotions: pity, frustration, fear, suspenseful expectation, ire, compassion and ultimately hope.

In an apartment in Northern New Jersey, Fretta Nutella (wonderfully disciplined Lenore Loveman) is wheelchair-bound and displays advanced dementia, her unemployed son-in-law Jesse Chavarra (emotionally versatile Jamie C. Ward) is her caretaker, and Max Chavarra (compellingly credible Gene Gallerano) is the conflicted and confused teenage son of Jesse and Maria, who went grocery shopping but has not returned. Max rebels, Jesse rages and Fretta is repetitious as they struggle to deal with problems only too familiar to anyone who has an aged parent, has raised a child, or experienced high school years in less than an ideal world.

But it seems Mr. Damiano was not satisfied with writing just another dysfunctional family drama. With the additional outstanding performances by Maureen Griffin as Max's concerned guidance counselor and Brandon Jones and Max Arnaud as down-to-earth police officers Velazquez and Bryant, as well as the agile and adept direction of Kim T. Sharp, he has managed to create a dynamic modern day microcosm. The necessity for communication, the results of lack of it, fear of abandonment, the demands imposed by loyalty and responsibility, the consequences of financial and bureaucratic restraints are also very much a part of his satisfying theatrical experience.

The Abingdon Theatre is presenting the world premiere of "Dreams of Friendly Aliens" in its Dorothy Strelsin Theatre, which has what might be considered a small playing area; however, the evening I attended, the diminutive space was filled with copious outpourings of emotionsâ€"both histrionic and realâ€"and profound lessons relating to the humanity of man.