Pultz. Prize Playwright Patrick Shanley's "The Portuguese Kid" Stars Jason Alexander & Sherie Renee Scott

Patrick Stanley (b. Amer 1950) is a Pulitizer Prize & Tony Award winner for his play "Doubt".  He earned an Acad. Award for his screenplay for Moonstruck.  He's written numerous plays & movie scripts.  Stanley skillfully manages both serious & comedic material. "The Portuguese Kid" now at MTC is a (long) 1 Act comedic play that has a first rate cast that elevates the material into a light, entertaining diversion.  It was obvious by the overblown guffaws from the audience the show was a crow pleaser. Those who kept more of a poker face(myself included) it won me over with Shanley's clever writing & clarion Trump bashing (bravo)!  The 5 card cast all delivered on the script they were dealt.  The king & queen of the cast were TV celebrity Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) as Barry and Tony winner & B'wy veteran, Sherie Rene Scott as Atalanta.  Barry & Atlanta have known each other since she was 10 & he 15.  The story of their 1st encounter; Barry being beaten by a Portuguese punk & Atlanta came to his rescue was recounted ad nauseam.  The two are middle-aged star crossed lovers.  Barry has been Atalanta's atty. advising her through the estates left her from 3 dead husbands.  The tempest off stage is carried onstage in Barry's law office. Atalanta is attired in chic style; black dress showing décolletage, long white gloves, & dark glasses.  Barry employs his mother, Mrs. Dragonetti, played straight up, uproariously funny by B'wy veteran Mary Testa (2 Tony noms. & 5 Drama Desk noms. & an Obie award).  Tensions are combustible & hysterical when Barry's mom enters & the no holds barred contempt between Atalanta & Mrs. Dragonetti turns into a ballistic battle of wills. There's another pair of star crossed young lovers, Patty a sex kitten married to the much older Barry and Freddie (Pico Alexander, currently starring opposite Reese Witherspoon in Home Again) who is having an affair with the much older, wealthy widow Atalanta.  The tells for outcome of this comical romanic romp make the foregone ending obvious.  Shanley's play is no royal flush but it holds 2 pairs & an ace (Mary Testa), enough to make it a winning pot.