Review roundup -- A coupla white chicks sitting around talking

The Year of Magical Thinking
I had the pleasure of catching Vanessa Redgrave's "A Long Day's Journey Into Night" a few seasons ago, so getting to this show -- in which she becomes author Joan Didion to retell the experience of death of her husband and the subsequent illness and death of her daughter -- just to see the master thespian in action was not a priority. I'm glad I did, though, because it clearly cements Redgrave's status as one of the all-time greats. Calling this work a play is a stretch, as it's more of a florid memoir that is no more theatrical than a book on tape, but Redgrave transforms it far beyond that. Redgrave spends most of the time in a chair and still commands more presence than most leading actresses working today. The precise moments of both deaths, particularly a bit regarding a piece of jewelry, are crushing. At the beginning of the show, Didion warns the audience that this experience will happen to us all someday if it hasn't already. For those who have had it recently, this play will be shattering, as evidenced by the weeping woman who stayed clustered in her husband's arms even as the rest of us filed out of the theatre. For the rest of us, who have either had ample healing time or still have that inevitable experience hanging over us like the sword of Damocles, the show is a sometimes tedious but ultimately worthwhile piece.

Old Acquaintance
I'm not exactly sure why Roundabout felt the need to dust off this old John van Druten bagatelle, but I suppose giving two of New York's most stalwart character actresses a chance to shine is reason enough. Margaret Colin and Harriet Harris are playing the roles made famous by Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins, respectively, in the film based on the play. Those unfamiliar with the film or play might be surprised that Colin, not the scenery-ravenous Harris, is playing the Davis role, but the character, the highbrow author Katherine Markham, is the together one here. Harris' Mildred Watson Drake, the more prolific writer of trashy novels, is the basket case. Not a whole heck of a lot happens in this show, especially considering the main romance centers around the completely obnoxious character of Drake's daughter Diedre. By obnoxious, I mean the way the character is written and no reflection on the actress playing it, here the capable Diane Davis. The show also seems incredibly drawn out thanks to two intermissions made necessary by massive set changes in the script. Still, the actresses are at their best and are enough to ensure that this "Old Acquaintance" isn't soon forgot. OK, I had to work that in, because everyone else is.