By Liz Eichler
Falcon Theatre’s Mr. Parker is the story of a man trying to redefine his life after his partner dies. This play explores the concept of loss and legacy–a worthy of consideration for anyone–but this focuses on a gay man after the lost of his spouse. The Falcon team does a great job delivering on Michael McKeever’s script.
The Plot of Mr. Parker
Thirty years ago, Terry Parker, a writer, met Jeffrey, a budding artist. When Jeffrey’s career takes off, Terry gives up his writing career to support Jeffrey. Then Jeffrey, whose seminal work is part of the early 21st century zeitgeist, dies. In this play Terry asks: Who am I? What is my role? Do I take over the estate to celebrate Jeffrey? Do I keep squashing my dreams of being a writer? Is that how I define myself in this second half of my life?
Terry (Brian Anderson) is just getting out from under the blanket of grief, as it has been only seven months since his spouse’s passing. (It appears money is not an issue for Terry, as he has two NYC apartments. He finds comfort in the small studio he and Jeffrey shared at the beginning of their relationship, where the action of the play takes place.) One day, he finally decides to go out to a bar, and connects with a young vibrant, chaotic bartender slash Uber driver, Justin (Aidan Dalton). The next sweet yet awkward morning, Terry tells Justin “You’re the opposite of everything I know.” But he is drawn to his youth, knowledge and confidence. And decides he will keeps dipping his toes in that water for a bit.
This distraction earns the ire of Jeffrey’s sister Cassie (Angela Alexander Nalley) who is fixated on ensuring that Terry remains focused on preserving Jeffrey’s legacy. Her role as a driven, successful woman with a strong sense of control creates tension.
Performances
Aiden Dalton owns the role of Justin, inhabiting Justin with natural authenticity. Their performance is warm, charismatic, and effortlessly compelling—capturing the youthful energy and chaotic charm that make Justin such a captivating presence on stage. It’s easy to see why Terry is drawn to him.
Angela Alexander Nalley delivers on Cassie–a formidable woman who is used to being in charge. A surprising moment is when she mentions her husband wishes they had kids. Just by confessing this to Terry there is an iota of shared remorse. This brief glimpse of her emotional complexity adds a layer of depth to this character, and a contrast to Terry. She is a woman who did not give up her life for someone else–husband or child. She lives a life parallel with her husband, and is able to leverage this into more, not less. As a do-er and important driver of philanthropy and art, her name is on multiple buildings. She has established her legacy.
Anderson brings a quiet, understated power to the role of Terry. He has lived the life as the supporter, and let his goals meld in with his partner’s. Now, we see this man is lost. Anderson shows how Terry can and will move on, and after this winter there will be spring. His dalliance with Justin helps him define who he is, not who he was. Justin is also changed by the relationship, as things progress, it helps him to a new level of maturity.
Themes
As the show says, you can’t move forward without thinking about where you came from. Terry’s character–as written–is quite repetitious, and frankly, the script could use some editing, especially in Terry’s monologues. Widows have long confronted this stark new reality in life, literature and theatre. The twist is, now it is a man who lost his husband. What are the differences in the loss?
Another angle of legacy is the relationship between fathers and sons. Justin shares his casual contempt and dismissive attitude toward his father, while Terry reveals he had a great relationship with his. Yet, every time Justin shares some arcane knowledge of architecture, his dad’s passion, he reveals his respect for his father. Justin doesn’t recognize this legacy his father has given him. By the end of the play, Justin, too, becomes more self-aware.
Production Team
Director Liz Carman pulls the show together well, and expertly guides her actors through it. The emotional beats of the play land with resonance, particularly in moments of vulnerability. In one of Terry’s beginning monologues, he treats the couch as the hospital bed, and it is a great moment to see Terry’s tenderness toward Jeffrey.
The set (Ted Weil) is in appropriate grey tones with some splashes of color, looking much like a second residence it is, versus the main residence of a successful artist. The clothing (Hannah Richardson) is well chosen, especially for Cassie’s larger than life character.
Overall
Overall, Mr. Parker is touching and thought-provoking play. It is worth seeing, especially if you are contemplating how people will remember you after you have passed. Through children? Works? Or will you just fade away?
Tickets to Mr. Parker
Tickets to Mr. Parker are available through Paper Bag Tickets. Mr. Parker runs weekends at 8 p.m. through Saturday March 29.
Up Next at the Falcon
Up next is During/After by Wendy Vogel, Directed by Ed Cohen. “Every decision we make sculpts our lives, inch by inch. Told through interweaving monologues and flashbacks, this world premiere examines choice and consequence, redemption and forgiveness in the stories of three men whose lives are connected in ways they could never conceive.” Production Dates: April 4th-12th, 2025.
