Skylight at the Lantern proves love does not conquer all

Theater: Lantern Theater Company
Show Title: Skylight
Opened: February 1, 2008
Seen: February 9, 2008
Reviewer: Dawn Cowle
Submitted: February 14, 2008

Over the past few years Sir David Hare has been emerging as one of the most political playwrights of our time, yet in the Lantern's current production of Skylight, he tackles a more intimate subject matter- that of love, and asks the question (as the Lantern's press release so wonderfully puts it), "Can love stand still as time moves forward?"

Hare shifts away from the exploration of political agendas (but only for a bit as political beliefs dominate the second act) in this intimate, and often funny tale of former two lovers who, after years of being apart, come together for one night in hopes to either rekindle their former love affair, or put the past to bed for good. Kyra (Genevieve Perrier), a school teacher working in one of London's troubled schools is visited by young Edward (Ryan Jones), the son of her former employers Alice and Tom (Peter DeLaurier). Edward informs Kyra that his mother died a year ago from cancer. Since her death, Edward's father hasn't been the same (he just sits there and flips through the yellow pages, something he never did before Alice's death), and according to Edward, Kyra is the only one who can help.

After very long and drawn out exposition filled scene, Tom shows up later that night "because it seemed about time…" As the evening unfolds it becomes very clear these two once shared a deep love (the affair lasted for six years), and still share an unspoken guilt about how the relationship ended. It turns out that once they were discovered by Alice, Kyra just left: Tom, her job, the life she created-everything. And Tom was the one who had to live with the repercussions. Over the course of the first act they finally are able to air their grievances and forgive each other… or so it would seem. Act two is much more of Hare's style. After sleeping together, Kyra and Tom just can't seem to accept the present life each has created for themselves. They begin to argue over everything from the past, the present,  and to the future they know they can't have together. Their love is real, that much is obvious, but their social beliefs and politics are so different, (and we all know water and oil don't mix together). In the end, it's their inability to truly understand the other that leads to their ultimate separation.

Perriere and DeLaurier as Kyra and Tom are wonderful to watch play off each other. Their chemistry is undeniable, which makes the two plus hours spent in the theatre worthwhile. Perriere plays the strong willed Kyra to a tee- as an audience member you really believe this is a teacher who wants to make an impact, to make a difference. DeLaurier nails both the gritty business side, as well as the sensitive side of Tom who loves to give for the sake of giving. Jones, a senior at Temple this year, manages in only two short scenes to win over the audience as the son concerned for his father's mental well-being, and (without giving too much away) shines with such sweetness in the very last scene that you wish you could take him home to your mother.  Dirk Durossette's set design is flawless in its re-creation of a dingy London flat (which looked very similar to one I stayed in for some time over there). Millie Hiibel's costumes, David O'Connor's lights, and Jeff Lorenz's sound design are all worth mentioning too. The designers clearly knew what they were doing in capturing the style of London, and the differences in class among the characters.

I commend the Lantern for bringing Skylight to Philadelphia. The show (being written in 1995) might seem a bit outdated to some as the politics Kyra and Tom argue over have undoubtedly changed, but I think Dan Kern's swift direction proves that when it comes down to it, love lost is always relevant. Just because you love someone doesn’t mean you automatically  your ‘happily ever after,’ because something, be it time, or politics, or class will always get in the way.