Hirsch, Vereen Shine in 'Rappaport' at Ford's

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 2/7/02)

"Nostalgia is a disease of old people," says Judd Hirsch as a wise-cracking, octogenarian park bench philosopher in Herb Gardner’s 1986 Tony Award-winning comedy "I’m Not Rappaport" at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.

In reprising his Tony Award-winning Broadway performance as Nat, Hirsch shares "alterations on the truth" and friendship with Midge (Ben Vereen), an elderly apartment building superintendent, on a Central Park bench. This odd couple has something in common with each other and the audience — you are either old or getting there. How they deal with that fact makes the audience howl with laughter.

With wry humor, they commiserate about failing eyesight, fear of "getting foolish," missed opportunities and the struggle to remain independent. Nat is a longtime radical, who will take on any cause, even the price of lamb chops at a fashionable butcher shop. He jumps into action to help Midge, who hides in the park, avoiding tenants who want their building to "go condo" and for Midge to retire. Nat, who personifies chutzpah, thinks nothing of passing himself off as a congressman, lawyer or mobster, although, in reality, he was a waiter for 41 years. His daughter Clara (Mimi Lieber) never knows when she will receive a phone call for "Dr. Fred Engels," one of Nat’s personas.

Nat berates Pete Danforth (Anthony Arkin), when he comes to tell Midge he is losing his job and home of 42 years, "You collect old things, but not old people. …We are the coming attractions. We know something. …We didn’t just stay late to ruin your party."

Although Daniel Sullivan, who also directed the Broadway production, creates a feisty chemistry between Nat and Midge, each in turn suffers physical injury defending the other. After Nat has been roughed up by street punk Gilley (Steven Boyer), he returns from the hospital singing, "Puttin’ on the Ritz," tapping his aluminum walker in time.

Inevitably, Nat and Midge go too far to save Laurie (Tanya Clarke), an object of their fantasies, from the Cowboy (Jeb Brown).

Vereen’s Midge, recreated from a San Francisco production, smoothly counterbalances Nat with his own brand of street smarts. Vereen’s career has included both dramatic and musical roles from "Chicken George" in the television epic "Roots" to "Jelly’s Last Jam" on Broadway and films such as "All That Jazz" and "Funny Lady." He won Tony and Drama Desk Awards for his performance in the Broadway hit, "Pippin."

Hirsch also won a Tony in 1992 for Gardner’s "Conversations with My Father." He is well known for his Emmy Award-winning character Al Reiger in the television series, "Taxi." Among Hirsch’s film credits are "The Goodbye People," "Independence Day," "A Beautiful Mind" and the yet-to-be released, "Out in the Cold."

Tony Walton’s lovely original Broadway set featuring park benches and stone bridge faithfully recreate Central Park on Ford’s stage. Pat Collins’ original lighting design brings a warm glow to this production.

Performances continue through Feb. 17, Tues. – Sun. at 7:30 p.m. (except Feb. 17) and Sat. and Sun., at 2:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the Ford’s Theatre box office at 511 Tenth St. N.W. in Washington or by calling 202/434-9546.

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