NEW YORK—At its heart, the purpose of theater has always been to tell stories, which actor John Lithgow does with great charm, humor, and poignancy in his lovely one-man show, Stories By Heart.
"You're asking yourselves, why must we watch another one-man show," Lithgow says at the beginning of the piece. "Why is this man plunging himself into this tired, old dramatic form, as tedious as it is narcissistic?" Well, besides using this intro as an excuse for him to personally remind theatergoers to turn off their pagers, cell phones, beepers, and watch alarms (a nice touch), this particular one-man show is not only about telling stories, but also about the stories behind the stories (or stories about stories as Lithgow puts it), adding an extra, personal dimension to what the audience is about to hear.
Many of these tales are ones Lithgow first heard from his grandmother when he was about seven years old. Lithgow uses the stories as a catalyst to tell about this woman, who was born in 1882 and grew up on the island of Nantucket, and about the special legacy she passed on to two succeeding generations. Among the stories and poems Lithgow relates is "The Deacon's Masterpiece; or The Wonderful One-hoss Shay," by Oliver Wendell Holmes, and from whom Lithgow later learned he was descended.
Lithgow tells these stories with a joyous, jaunty jocularity, combining emotion, humor, wit, and a perfect sense of timing, making them come alive for the audience. More than simply being enjoyable to hear, they open a window on a bygone era—one can feel the nostalgia each story brings with it.
Matters take on an added poignancy in the latter half of the evening as Lithgow recalls his return home in 2002 to take care of his aging parents, particularly his then 86-year-old father, who had recently undergone major abdominal surgery. In an effort to cheer him up, Lithgow started telling some of the same stories both he and his father had heard as children, and in a sense bringing his grandmother's tales full circle.
The final third of the play has Lithgow telling one of these stories he told to his parents, "Uncle Fred Flits By," by P.G. Wodehouse. Not only does Lithgow expertly relate this rather funny tale, but he also acts out the action, literally becoming the various characters as he turns a straightforward story reading into a performance extraordinaire of the work.
It's during "Uncle Fred Flits By" that the purpose of the evening comes through full force. In addition to relating the various tales and personal anecdotes, Lithgow is also imparting the wonder, joy, and enthusiasm he felt as a child when he first heard these stories (and how he kept them fresh in his mind no matter how many times he heard them).
Credit must also to go director Jack O'Brien, who allows Lithgow enough room to fully act out when the situation calls for it, yet also keeps him tightly focused to allow the smallest and quietest moments as much power as the over the top ones.
It's obvious that Lithgow took great care and joy in putting this show together and the results are wondrous to behold, and, of course, hear. "Stories By Heart" is a funny and touching evening and a very special trip down memory lane. Even if the stories are completely new to the listener, everyone can relate to the feelings behind them.
Stories By Heart.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Mizi E. Newhouse Theater
150 West 65th Street
Tickets: 212-239-6200 or www.telecharge.com or www.lct.org
Running Time: Approximately 90 minutes
Closes June 2, 2008
Judd Hollander is the New York correspondent for the London publication, The Stage.
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