in ‘Nightingale’
By Juliet Schoen / Staff Writer
Lynn Redgrave is presenting her one-woman show, which centers on the adventures of a fictional woman of the Edwardian era who is not terribly interesting. In “Nightingale,” Redgrave hovers over the wedding night of the clueless woman, using innuendo and snide remarks while avoiding any precise indications of what really happened.
Well, our lady gets to understand the birds and bees and manages to give birth to two children.
But life is hard. Her husband works at the university to earn enough money to support his wife, their two children, a maid and a nanny. Of course, he won’t allow his wife to work, the brute.
Nothing much happens but Redgrave, who is responsible for the writing, is able to move off and on the stage through the means of openings in a giant screen. She emerges glad, sad or mad as required by her script, which moves from1904 to 1973. She does voices very professionally and can mimic sisters, husbands and children. This is an opportunity for Redgrave to act, act and act.
The show, playing at the Mark Taper Forum, is directed by Joseph Hardy who manages to let the various scenes progress seamlessly without an intermission.