The Fourth Walsh

Goodman Theatre presents HOLIDAY.

Boy meets girl. They fall in love. They get engaged. Then, he finds out her deep, dark secret…. she is filthy rich. Julia is from the Manhattan upper class. Johnny arrives at the family’s Fifth Avenue mansion ready to assimilate. He must win over the relentless mogul father, the drunken drifter brother and the idealistic misfit sister. Although the versatile Johnny charms them all, he must decide if acceptance is his fate.

Adapter Richard Greenberg dusts off the 1928 play by Philip Barry. The underlying theme holds up nearly a century later. Apparently, greed is timeless! The uber wealthy striving for more money, more power, more drinks, more friends… just MORE! Greenberg gives the script a contemporary makeover transitioning into present day. Julia (played by a determined Molly Griggs) scoffs at the measly amount of a million dollars. Her and her father (played by a solid Jordan Lage) have an endless drive to be richer. Their credo clashes with Johnny’s (played by a amicable Luigi Sottile) plan to go on holiday after securing his big windfall. It also conflicts with sister Lydia (played by an overwrought Bryce Gangel) whose love-hate relationship with the family leads to cynicism and outbursts.   

Director Robert Falls orchestrates this peek behind the posh drapes. On sets designed by Walt Spangler, an elegant living room showcases the family’s swanky life. Later, a colorful and eclectic childhood room holds ties to the past and lost wishes. Although the play is billed as a comedy, HOLIDAY doesn’t nicely fit into one genre. It presents as a romcom. In the first scene, Griggs and Sottile are playfully flirting. Their new can’t-keep-our-hands-off-each-other affection is hot in Act 1 and cools down by Act 2.

The comedy is also sporadic. At a different time in our country’s history, it would be easier to laugh at the singularly-focused affluent. Currently, anger toward the 1 percenters overshadows the humor. Despite Wesley Taylor (Ned) delivering hilarious self-depreciation because of the substance abuse topic some of the joking falls flat. For a short time, Christiana Clark and Jessie Fisher, crash the party and elevate the wit. The effervescent Washburn and droll Fisher make fun of everything and everybody. They are definitely comedy relief.

I did enjoy HOLIDAY. It just wasn’t the light-breezy escape I anticipated. I didn’t laugh a lot yet I still had a good time.    

Running Time: Two hours and twenty-five minutes includes an intermission

At Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn

Written by Philip Barry

Adapted by Richard Greenberg

Directed by Robert Falls

Performances are:

Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30pm

Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm

EXTENDED Thru March 8

For more information or tickets

Production photos by Todd Rosenberg

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