Stamp collecting isn’t exactly trendy, and a play about stamp
collecting doesn’t seem particularly gripping, in theory. But when the story
also includes a true crime feel and comes from the pen of playwright and proven
mystery writer Theresa Rebeck, things get
interesting. The latest selection in the Blackfriars
season, “Mauritius,” which runs through April 7, is a story about an inherited
book of stamps.
The plot
follows half-sisters Jackie (Fiona Criddle) and Mary
(Stephanie Sheak), whose mother has just died.
Jackie, attempting to pay off a debt, takes an old stamp book she found to noted
philatelist and appraiser Philip (Jeff Siuda) for
consultation, but when he refuses to look, it’s amateur collector Dennis (Danny
Hoskins) who helps her out. There’s just one catch: the stamp book actually
belonged to Mary’s paternal grandfather. So, who does it belong to now? The
next two-and-a-half hours, including one 15-minute intermission, are a
whirlwind of intrigue, betrayal and cons when a set inside the book is revealed
to be from the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius and among the rarest stamps in
the world. As each character strives to reap the valuable rewards, the worst of
human nature is revealed.
“Mauritius”
opened on Broadway in 2007, and was Rebeck’s first to
move to Broadway (she is also a novelist and screenwriter for TV and film). It
hasn’t been widely performed since then. The Blackfriars
production features a small cast of five, directed by the intuitive Brian
Coughlin, who also designed the elaborate, modern day set that doubles as
Phil’s office, a coffee shop, and Jackie’s apartment.
In the role
of Jackie is Fiona Criddle, a newcomer to the Blackfriars stage. She’s believable, even likeable as the
younger, flighty sister who conceals her sharp wit like a weapon — but it did
take her a few scenes to warm up to the feistiness the role demands. Blackfriars Artistic Director Danny Hoskins drives much of
the show’s mysterious momentum as Dennis, the amateur stamp collector who is
the first to look at Jackie’s stamp book. Hoskins is onstage roughly once per
season in a suitable role, and this was certainly the right choice for 2019.
Returning to
the Blackfriars stage for the third time this season
is J. Simmons. After captivating performances in “Anna in the Tropics” and
“Rocky Horror Picture Show” last fall, Simmons is back to transfix the audience
with his portrayal of Sterling, a volatile, stamp-obsessed, trust fund-toting
businessman. Rounding out the cast are Stephanie Sheak
in an impressive role as the self-absorbed older sister Mary; and Jeff Siuda as Philip, who Siuda
depicts as both detestable and a character some may feel empathetic toward.
Collectively, the cast melds well and creates a dynamic of suspense and
constant dialogue.
The set is
modern, but props master John Engel includes attention to detail that creates
visual interest and a sense of realism, from crocheted doilies on Jackie’s
couch to an empty printer box and disheveled papers stacked atop a filing
cabinet in Phil’s office. Fight choreography by Katelyn Cantu proves to be both
innovative and invaluable for this show, which has a few intense moments.
“Mauritius”
is the kind of show rooted in a topic so niche that few people know about it
walking in to the theater — and no one can stop thinking about it as they walk
out.
This article appears in Mar 27 – Apr 2, 2019.
