Review of 'Social Security' at CT Cabaret Theatre

Pictured above: Russell Fish as Maurice Koenig and Lori Feldman as Sophie Greengrass in SOCIAL SECURITY Photo by Stu Clark

Dedicated to the memory of Joan S. Kinnie, a dedicated Naugatuck educator

Berlin, CT - Connecticut Cabaret Theatre continues its season with SOCIAL SECURITY, a comedy by Andrew Bergman. The play was produced and directed by CCT owner Kris McMurray, who mentioned during his curtain speech that patrons had been calling for tickets to a show they referred to as “Oy vey.” He also gave shout outs to all three of the critics in the opening night audience before he told everyone how proud he was of his talented cast. It soon became apparent that this cast of six, two of whom only really appear in the second half of the performance, were a tight ensemble.

The comedy, which appeared on Broadway in 1986, involves a trendy New York couple Barbara and David Kahn who are art dealers. The couple’s sophisticated life is upended when the wife’s nerdy sister Trudy and her uptight husband Martin from Mineola deposit their aging Jewish mother Sophie on their doorstep. Trudy and Martin need to rescue their sexually precocious college student daughter from the horrors of living only for sex. The comedy ramps up when Sophie hits it off with a suave elderly artist who brightens her life in ways she never expected.

I found it interesting that the Broadway production was directed by Mike Nichols and had a short run at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. It starred Marlo Thomas as Barbara, Ron Silver as David, Joanna Gleason as Trudy, Stefan Schnabel as Maurice, Kenneth Welsh as Martin and the wonderful Olympia Dukakis in the role of the Jewish mother Sophie.

The CCT cast was led by Rachel West-Balling as Barbara and Chris Brooks as David, both of whom had scenes in pajamas and even less. The character of David truly had some of the best lines and Mr. Brooks delivered all of them well. Carleigh Cappetta Schultz played very well the uptight sister Trudy Hayman and Tony Galli did a fine job as her CPA husband Martin.

Do not ask for whom the walker thumps, it thumps for thee. - Barbara in SOCIAL SECURITY

Expecting this piece to be all about the Jewish mother, I was surprised that the fabulous Lori Feldman did not make her entrance until the final seconds of the first act. But make an entrance she did, spitting her signature sour ball over her walker and into the audience. I enjoyed every minute of her performance in the second act; when I wasn’t smiling, I was laughing out loud at the comic timing of this talented lady, and what a delight it was to watch the unexpected transformation of her character.

Equally as impressive was the performance of CCT veteran Russell Fish in the role of the ninety-year-old artist Maurice Koenig. I watched Mr. Fish drive into the theatre’s parking lot as I arrived and wondered how he was going to get into his costume in time for the 8pm curtain. Turns out he had the entire first act to prepare for his slow and steady entrance as the elderly painter. Once on the stage, Mr. Fish delivered a wonderful performance in this supporting role and did not break character even during the curtain call. Kudos to this beloved community theatre actor on making the most of his character and yet another fine performance at CCT.

The direction of Mr. McMurray ensured that everyone brought out the humor in the play. I appreciated the sometimes rapid fire dialogue and the witty jokes that were strung together by the action. There were just a couple of issues with lines that I noticed on opening night that I am sure are already fixed. James J. Moran kept things running backstage as the stage manager and once again worked his magic with the upscale set design and effective lighting and sound. Costumes were different than those shown in promotional photos and were far better at defining the various characters.

Special thanks to Linda Gregg RN for her help in moving along the grief process; it was not lost on both of us that an off-stage character was named Ruth. Because of the sexual references and some bad language, this comedy is not really appropriate for young children, but the adult opening night audience members were laughing throughout the production and many were on their feet at the curtain call. SOCIAL SECURITY (a title I can’t explain) runs at the Connecticut Cabaret Theatre through Sept. 22. Tickets are going faster than you can say “gefilte fish!” Call for yours today: 860-829-1248.

Marie Sasso, Nancy Sasso Janis and the late Prof. Ruth M. Sasso Photo by the late Austin N. Sasso

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on