Summer, 1976

4 out of 5 Stars

The title alone of Summer, 1976 sets the stage for the joyful, consuming experience awaiting you at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. For many of us, it is easy to dial back to precisely the time of our lives when this story sets sail. Adding to the delight of this tale is that we theatergoers get to spend this summer afternoon in the company of theater royalty - Jessica Hecht and Laura Linney.

For 90 minutes, the pair volleyed back and forth with their perspectives on the relationship that developed that summer. It is ordinary in that we have all felt or witnessed many of the components of their experiences, yet extraordinary in the cleverness of their storytelling. Many times during the course of this play you will have the “oh, I can see where this is going” moment only to be surprised and delighted by the unexpected twists and turns. It also evokes a time when the unpolished veneer of youth allows us to dream big before adult experiences begin grinding into our reality.

This stage is mostly bare, with the actors providing everything you need to be fully engrossed and dare I say mesmerized. These two actors effortlessly pivot whenever additional characters are needed to fill the required roles. In the end, you will have had a profoundly satisfying experience of what Bob Dylan would describe as “life and life only”. See the show.