Word: nick
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...appearance of two social workers, Albert Amundson (John O'Brien) and Sandra Markowitz (Anne Ames), who visit Murray's home to investigate his reliability as a guardian for Nick, threatens the pair's unconventional life. Despite Nick's valiant attempts to assure them he reads educational books and has a healthy and well-adjusted environment, the Child Welfare Board rules that he must leave if Murray does not find a job. To add to Murray's dilemma, he and Sandy fall in love, and his free-spirit faces the agonizing choice of kowtowing to society's definition of "well-adjusted...
...expressive face, taut and still when he faces the possibility of losing Nick, twitches with exasperation and anger when enduring the rantings of his boss and grows pleading when he confesses to Nick or Sandy his inability to go job hunting. The only quibble with his magnificent performance is a certain awkwardness in his arm gestures...
Scales and Litman alternate performances as Nick, and both turn in commendable performances as the middle-aged 12-year old who combines an earnest wisdom with a gleeful sense of comedy. Scales begins unevenly marring his performance with unclear diction, rushed lines, and a soft tone, but once he gains his stride he does a good job as Murray's sidekick. He particularly excels in the climatic scene when Murray must decide whether to capitulate to society and return to work. Scales protests Murray's decision with devastating honesty and childlike earnestness...
Litman brings energy, exuberance, and a somewhat different interpretation to the part. He portrays Nick as slightly more wise-ass and more adult, though he too suffers from a too rapid and mumbled delivery at the play's outset. He improves quickly and is especially good at reacting to Miller adding more grimaces and physical schtick to the role...
...Brien shines as the prissy, preppie caseworker who finds Murray incomprehensible. He constantly raises his eyebrows, squirms, pedantically refers to Nick as "the child" and misses the humor in every one of Murray's gibes. In one very funny scene, O'Brien feigns horror at Nick's doll whose well-endowed breasts light up, but with prurient delight, he sneaks a peak...