Word: poreba
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Remembered by most for the 1940 Katharine Hepburn/Cary Grant/Jimmy Stew-art film adaptation, The Philadelphia Story ambitiously tackles a number of themes, from class tension to divorce to parent-child relations. The play revolves around Lord (Janine Poreba), a wealthy socialite who is tired of men, from her father to her ex-husband, telling her how untouchably wonderful she is. With Tracy set to marry newly-rich social climber George Kittredge (J.C. Wolfgang Murad), her wedding promises to be a gala affair, drawing reluctant reporters Elizabeth Imbrie (Emily Gardiner) and Mike Connor (Jason Watkins...
...Tracy, Poreba's success in playing a woman who longs to be knocked from her pedestal is the play's driving factor, and her portrayal conveys Tracy's strength convincingly. Combined with some admirable under-playing from Watkins, Poreba absolutely stumps the reporter at their first meeting; her reply to his amiable "but I'm Mike to my friends" is "Of whom you have many, I'm sure." Poreba delivers such loaded lines with the perfect mix of sweetness and slyness, and men, including Connor, cannot help but fall helpless before her. While Tracy's relationship with her exhusband...
Nick Gordon's Scoop Rosenbaum was slimy yet endearing, and the interplay between the character's "A+ ambition, A- charisma, and C+ loyalty" was certainly entertaining. Decidedly lively, Gordon provided a dynamic contrast well with Efron's and Poreba's brooding characters...
...response to the AIDS crisis--both dealt with in the midst of a play so laden with feminist concerns--Efron holds his own with captivating power. Efron's convincing combination of wit, cynicism and vulnerability made his character especially sympathetic to the audience. His final duet with Poreba in the hospital reduced many to tears...
Also contrasting with Poreba's character was Jessica Walling's portrayal of Susan Johnston. Effectively revealing how freaky the pressure of social trends can be, Walling charged into the feminist collectives of the 70s and power lunching in the 80s with frightening and humorous intensity...