Shareby Pat Craig, Contra Costa Times
Swimming and boating play a big part in the Bay Area premiere of "Jack Goes Boating" at Aurora Theatre, which is fitting because the play's four characters all seem to be struggling to tread water in one way or another.
The choppy waters of romance have never been easy to navigate, but they seem so much more treacherous now when taking umbragen over misunderstood intentions has become the new national pastime.
Lucy (Amanda Duarte) and Clyde (Gabriel Marin) are in a long-term, seemingly happy relationship. Jack (Danny Wolohan) has never been in a relationship to speak of, but is eager to get there. And to round things out, Lucy, who works in telemarketing for a funeral and grief counselor, has a saleswoman named Connie (Beth Wilmurt) who might be just right for Jack.
It sounds like the start of a beautiful friendship, but it's not quite that easy these days — it probably never was for social maladroits like Jack and Connie. And their tortured conversation seems to bode bad for them during a dinner party one wintry evening at Lucy and Clyde's apartment.
But when Jack returns from walking Connie outside to get a cab, he's thrilled because Connie told him she'd like to go boating with him.
"You made a date for next summer?" Clyde asks, pouring a shot of practicality on Jack's happiness.
Thus begins a relationship for the shy and nervous young couple. It is slow to get physical but gives them increased reason to live, and for Jack a reason to learn how to swim (in case they do go boating), to cook (because no man has ever cooked for Connie) and to understand even long-term relationships have their problems.
Bob Glaudini has written a terrific play and Joy Carlin directs it beautifully, with an energetic pace and a chance to let her actors shine with a script that includes four plum comic roles featuring flawed but always interesting characters.
The show plays well in the tiny Aurora Theatre playing space by making full use of a two-story set by Melpomene Katakalos and some clever lighting by Jim Cave.
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