As a veteran Gin player my first thought as the characters began playing Gin was, what about the up deck? Is that just a variation that I grew up with or were they simplifying the game for the sake of the audience? Gin has always seemed to me like a game older people play. Maybe it’s because my Grandfather taught me the game and now about the only time I play it is with my Aged P once a year when we get together for a marathon Chex Mix baking and Gin Rummy Tournament. The Gin Game a Pulitzer Prize winning play by D.L. Coburn centers around two seniors, Weller played by Terry Hempleman and Fonsia played by Greta Oglesby, who are fairly new to a retirement home and begin playing Gin together. Weller teaches Fonsia the game as she had played a variation of it but when she was much younger. From the start Fonsia wins every hand which slowly makes Weller more and more frustrated. As they play they reveal little bits about their lives though in both cases, as in real life, they share their public version of themselves which isn’t always the truth. Throughout the four scenes the tone changes from that of two people getting to know each other and possibly becoming friends, to something darker.

I loved the performances by Hempleman and Oglesby they make it an enthralling show. I’m less enthusiastic about the script itself. I’m not sure if I see much in it other than as a showcase for two Actors. It gives both of these gifted performers a lot of emotional highs and lows to play. Frankly, it’s worth the price of admission to watch these two connect and spar. They find the humor in the script, they play the moments of heightened emotions perfectly, but the greatest thing they do, is to completely disappear into the roles. There was never a moment that didn’t feel true and honest, and believe me that is rarely the case. If you enjoy seeing two actors bring genuine truth to the stage, you must see this show. A couple of recommendations though. Get your seats in the center section, if that is full and you have to choose a side choose House Right. It really shouldn’t matter where your seats are, a show should be directed so that the blocking works for the entire house. That’s the one element that I would criticize Director Faye M. Price for. I was seated in the first seats on the second row of House Left and had Hempleman back to me for almost the entire first Act. The side wasn’t very full so we moved all the way to the end of the section at intermission, so almost level with where the stage begins and that was a much better view. The more I think about it, it’s an odd choice to stage a show that for most of it’s running time the characters sit across from each other in their basement thrust stage instead of their main proscenium stage.

The set design by Joseph Stanley is very well done. It’s a nice representation of the sun porch of the nursing home. For a play like this that really requires that we view these two as real people, a design that tries to emulate reality works to that end as well. Assisting to that end was Brandt Roberts’ Prop designs. I also want to point out the Lighting Designer Kurt Jung and Sound Designer Katharine Horowitz, particularly for their work in the scene when there is a thunderstorm. Their lighting flashes followed seconds later by thunder were perfectly timed to add a realism. Props as well to Stanley’s set in that scene when the roof begins to leak.

The Gin Game runs through February 23rd at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://parksquaretheatre.org/

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