Performances

Richmond just returned from Derry, Ireland, where he
gave a workshop in Improvised Comedy, and performed
with his troupe “Yes, Derry” at The Playhouse in
April.

Richmond just had a three week run in Yabo Yablonsky’s
play B.J. LANG PRESENTS.  

BACKSTAGE REVIEW: BJ LANG PRESENTS CYRANO at the Richmond Shepard Theatre

Yabo Yablonsky’s BJ Lang Presents Cyrano deals with a
mad movie actor-director starring in and shooting,
possibly in his mind only, a film of Cyrano de
Bergerac. And here’s Richmond Shepard, at the Richmond
Shepard Theatre, as both title roles—roles he also
played in Los Angeles under the direction of
Yablonsky, an old friend. The phrase “vanity
production” comes to mind. But in this case, the
vanity seems somewhat justified: Shepard is a
whirlwind on stage, and he gives this meditation on
moviemaking and madness what spark it possesses.

In a nearly unadorned black-box space, Shepard—who the
program says has been performing since at least
1952—sets up a shot, playing
not only Lang, a Hollywood has-been of dubious and
unspecified accomplishment, but the cameraman, the
secretary, the gay makeup artist, and other on-set
denizens. His transitions are lightning quick and
adept, with the strong suggestion that BJ Lang really
is all these people, like Norman Bates in a hall of
mirrors. Imagine a film director of Norma Desmond or
Baby Jane Hudson lunacy, and you get an idea;
moreover, Lang appears to know how crazy he is, asking
his leading lady at one point, “How does it feel to be
adored with something close to madness?”

She, Carlotta (Terri Durso), is a pretty Roxanne in a
wheelchair, her arms tied to its arms—she can walk,
all right, but to Lang that’s the
trouble, she may walk off the set. Back and forth
their power games go, giving Durso some terrific
screaming opportunities. Who Carlotta
really is, how she got there, the year, the location,
the circumstances of filmmaking—all are hazy, the
better to support the notion that it’s
all a delusion. Cryptic it is, and vigorously directed
by Lucy Ballard. But at under an hour, it doesn’t wear
out its welcome. And energy like Shepard’s ought to be
bottled.

Presented by Rothman Fairchild
at the Richmond Shepard Theatre, 309 E. 26th St., NYC.
Oct. 26–Nov. 4. Wed.–Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.
(212) 684-2690.
Reviewed by Marc Miller
Published on BackStage.com on October 26, 2007.

Scott and Barbara Siegel’s review said: The script is
heavily laced with sharp dialogue, and Shepard is
entirely convincing in his role.

William Wolfe wrote: Richmond Shepard, who stars as a
curmudgeon of an artist in his own play, “Designer
Genes,” has written intelligently about the
relationship of an older man and a young woman who
falls in love with him. Shepard aims to say something
about creativity, love and keeping an eye on the
values that are important in life. The result is
entertaining and also filled with feeling. Shepard
has staked out serious issues and provided a play that
is involving and amusing