Kelly McGillis and Rolf Saxon present fine portrayal of lonely lovers (From Echo)

Kelly McGillis and Rolf Saxon present fine portrayal of lonely lovers

9:20pm Tuesday 26th January 2010

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KELLY McGillis’s hotly anticipated portrayal of a despairing New York waitress in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune arrived at the Palace Theatre with a bump. And then another and another.

Not for the easily offended, the play begins with the couple engaging in some highly vocal love making, features extensive nudity and strong language.

Yet in the space of two hours, the play expertly paints detailed portraits not only of two lonely, damaged people, but also of the mid-Eighties New York in which they live.

Terrence McNally’s unconventional love story finds failed actress and straight talking waitress Frankie and cock-sure, Shakespeare-quoting short order cook Johnny in bed together after a first date.

Johnny is certain he has found his soulmate, but Frankie is far more cautious and less inclined to jump to such romantic conclusions.

As the night unfolds, they slowly begin to reveal themselves to each other as they take tentative steps towards the start of a possible relationship in this funny and, at times, tender comedy.

Originally an off-Broadway hit, the original show spawned a film version starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer.

The mix of quality acting, well-crafted script and a convincing set ensured we warmed to our two lovers, too, despite neither Frankie nor Johnny being the sweet, lovable kind.

Former Top Gun star McGillis expertly captures the fear, passion and frustration of a woman who cannot let herself go, while co-star Rolf Saxon conveys the desperation of a middle-aged man who thinks he has found what he wants with an uncomfortable intensity.

Both are used to the disappointments that failure in life and love can bring, yet thanks to the unwittingly help of a late night radio DJ they face the morning with hope.

Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune is engaging, intense, with an often wry dark humour. It is well worth going to see.

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