“Kowalski” Fires Up The Stage (Extended to November 8th!)

By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel

The absolutely stellar production of “Kowalski” at Lookingglass Theater is riveting, masterful, and mesmerizing. The entire cast is superb with Johnny Galecki and Jacob Moskovitz in the lead roles – these two actors are a tour de force on stage. Audiences will recognize Mr. Moskovitz from the Amazon hit series “Elle, from the world of Legally Blonde”. He is enormously talented and very believable as a young, cocky Marlon Brando. Jacob gives a flawless performance, his stage presence compelling, and comic timing impeccable.

Golden Globe, Emmy, and SAG Award nominee Johnny Galecki (“The Big Bang Theory”, “Roseanne”, “The Connors”), who started out as a child actor in Chicagoland, is perfect in the role of Tennessee Williams, commanding the stage with verve and intensity – he is a engaging virtuoso of his craft. I really saw Tennessee and Marlon on the stage; their performances are gripping and completely magnificent. All the players give very credible depictions, working well together – the chemistry between is strong and exciting.

The show, with its intense drama and sharp comedic moments, is an absolute pleasure to watch; theater history is alive and well on the stage. You witness an interpretation of what happened when Marlon Brando tried out for the role of Stanley Kowalski in the home of Tennessee Williams, arriving three days late and full of attitude. This production shows us incredible byplay between the two and the audition, with intimate glimpses into the lives of both larger than life legends.

I love the charming, quaint set, which takes the audience to a 1947 beach house with questionable plumbing and electrical issues. The floral print chintz covered sofa is cozy and a focal point for the action. We are reminded that Broadway tickets were so expensive back then: a whopping six dollars. This play is beautifully written by Gregg Ostrin; under Colin Hanlon‘s powerful direction, “Kowalski” is a captivating huge hit and the chance of a lifetime to watch two masters at work. But this stunning masterpiece is a limited engagement only until November 8th, so run, do not walk, to www.lookingglasstheatre.org for tickets or more information.

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