Hold On to Me Darling (Lucille Lortel Theatre)

By Harry Forbes

I didn’t catch Kenneth Lonergan’s play when it ran at the Atlantic Theater Company in 2016, but the current revival -- directed, like the last, by Neil Pepe, and featuring three of the original company -- is a winner, and another feather in the cap of Adam Driver. He takes the lead role of country singer Strings McCrane who returns home to Beaumont, Tennessee. for his mother’s funeral.

Driver is no stranger to New York theater, and has played an impressive variety of roles in plays by Shaw, Rattigan, Osborne, and Lanford Wilson, but in spite of his ever-growing film fame, he hasn't given up on stage work. And as with his previous film and theater roles, he again proves how skillfully he can completely transform himself to the character at hand

HIlariously self absorbed and self-pitying, and prey to any woman who sympathizes with him, Strings falls for the flattery and idolatry of masseuse Nancy (spot on Heather Burns) sent to his hotel room to relieve his stress. And later, at the funeral home, he finds himself inexorably drawn to Essie (Adelaide Clemens, also marvelous), the lovely second cousin he barely noticed before. And throughout it all, his puppy dog adoring assistant Jimmy (Keith Nobbs) is always on hand to do his bidding. He’ll also reconnect with his half brother Duke (CJ Wilson) who leads what now appears to Strings to be an enviably “normal” life. And ultimately, he’ll get to meet the father (Frank Wood) he hasn’t seen since his parents divorced when he was eight. 

Lonergan writes characters that you care about, and the situation is enormously entertaining. Despite Strings’ immense fame as a singer and film star, he insists he wants to give it all up, and go back to the simple life. Driver’s lovable sincerity and basic innocence make the premise plausible, and he makes Srrings consistently endearing despite the character’s inherent narcissism. 

Clemens, Nobbs and Wilson are reprising their original roles, and they are all terrific. Together with newbies Burns and Wood, they create an impeccable ensemble. The production team is largely the same: Walt Spangler’s revolving set which encompasses a variety of settings deftly, with Suttirat Larlarb and Lizzie Donelan’s character accurate costumes, and David Van Tieghem’s excellent sound design and music.

Pepe’s direction is perfectly judged as the play balances humor and poignancy. And he guides his cast expertly throughout. 

My performance lasted considerably longer than the two hour and 40 minutes originally stated, but was never less than fully absorbing.

(Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher St.; HoldOnToMeDarling.com; through December 22)

Photo by Julieta Cervantes: (l.-r.) Heather Burns and Adam Driver

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