2NDSTAGE's BECKY SHAW-Alden Ehrenreich Elevates a B'wy Play from it's Original Off B'wy Stay

Gina Gionfriddo's play BECKY SHAW had its premiere Off-Broadway in 2008 when it was named a finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize in Drama.  The play was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play of that year and received an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play. This year, the play has earned a Tony nomination for best revival and a Tony nomination for Alden Ehrenreich in his Broadway debut. Ehrenreich's debut is both notable for his ease and smooth charm in which he portrays Max, a successful business exec and eligible bachelor. Max's unorthodox upbringing was in the household of his parents' friends after his mother passed. He was raised alongside Suzanna (Lauren Patten) whose the same age as Max and has more than a sibling attachment to Max. The two are in a hotel room following the death of Suzanna's dad and Max's benefactor, prior to disseminating the estate.  Suzanna bemoans the passing of her beloved father and spouts suicidal tendencies. Max, the pragmatic voice of reason coaxes her to pursue an interest or take a ski vacation.  He's more concerned with the distressed financial situation left Suzanna and her domineering mother, Susan (Linda Emond).  Susan enters their room giving orders and dinner plans. Max and Suzanna yield to all her orchestrations.  Left alone in the room, they grow close and agree to watch porn together. Their flirtation intensifies  despite Suzanna protestations of being like brother and sister to which Max insists not quite. The play jumps 8 months to find Suzanna married to Andrew (Patrick Ball) her former ski-instructor.  The couple have arranged a blind date for Max with Becky (Madeline Brewer) from Andrew's work.  The mis-matched blind date is a debacle. The armed hold-up was the least of the nights' ordeal.  Max wants nothing more to do with the Becky, a manipulative basket case. All the characters are miserable and detestable in their own way.  There are you givers and takers.  Becky is overly needy which feeds Andrew's desire to feel good about himself.  Suzanna wants attention and to be at the center of everything.  Susan wants to call all the shots. She assigns Max to free her lover from jail on fraud charges. Becky wants Max which is the very last thing he wants. All these distasteful, self-serving characters revolve around level headed Max who is at the apex for all their shenanigans. Thankfully, Ehrenreich as Max brings a sensibility, charisma and sanity to all the stupefying antics to ground the play with humor and indignation to make BECKY SHAW an enjoyable and entertaining show. Even so, without Ehrenreich's effervescent portrayal, the five character play should stay Off-Broadway. But, with only two weeks left - go see Ehrenreich shine in BECKY SHAW.  Hopefully, we'll be seeing more of him on the Great White Way.