Say Goodnight, Gracie: The Life, Laughter and Love of George Burns Opening The Season at Act II Playhouse In Ambler, PA

Every now and then it comes along – a perfect marriage of parts. When a top-notch script, fantastic cast and excellent playhouse come together flawlessly, theatrical magic is created, and Act II Playhouse delivers it in spades.

 

Say Goodnight Gracie sees a posthumous George Burns presenting a review of his life to God and the audience in order to determine whether he is worthy of “the big time”, or heaven. What follows is an hour and a half of witty, silly, heartwarming and tear-jerking tales that will make a George Burns fan of even those who have never heard of him and confirm the adoration of those who have.

 

To say the script is multi-faceted would be an understatement. Playwright Rupert Holmes captures beautifully the gumption and eternal optimism that set Burns’ generation apart, yet does not shy away from the inevitable vulnerability of old age either. The audience witnesses the emotional journey Burns takes from a plucky yet impoverished youth, to a struggling performer hopelessly in love, to an elderly man, coming to grips with the pain of losing those closest to him. As a result, the comic is fleshed out from the bespectacled, cigar-smoking caricature he is remembered as and is humanized, eliciting both sympathy and respect from the viewer.

 

What is most impressive about Holmes’ script and Act II Playhouse’s choice to stage it, however, is that both are entirely reliant upon finding the perfect actor for the role. As the piece is literally a one man show, there is no room for ambivalent casting, and, fortunately, that tall order was filled and the right man for the job was found.

 

There are not enough words to express just how wonderful Tony Braithwaite is as George Burns. Braithwaite does not simply rely upon his uncanny impersonation of Burns to carry him through the show. Instead, he makes Burns so real that he virtually disappears into him. Braithwaite more than acts the role – he lives it. His every word is so engrossing, so utterly believable, that the audience finds themselves cheering his victories and suffering along with his defeats. Anyone unfamiliar with Braitwaite’s impressive career should feel the onus upon them to come to Act II and see how lucky the Philadelphia area is to count him amongst its local talent.

 

Though it is undoubtedly Tony Braithwaite the audience will be talking about as they file out of the theatre, Act II Playhouse and its production team should not be overlooked. However, they are victims of their own success, and it is precisely their hard work and artistic vision that allows them to fade into the background. Act II knows how to master minimalism to full effect, and though the audience may not realize it at the time, this is integral to the impact of the overall performance. The set is a simple composition of pictures spanning the breadth of George Burns’ and Gracie Allen’s career, accompanied only by a table, an old-fashioned radio, a projector screen and a television; yet as each is employed, the path of Burns’ life and career unfolds with incredible clarity and emotional impact; history comes to life and so does Burns’ tale.

 

Those who have any reservations about seeing this show need not fear. Anyone concerned that they are neither familiar with nor fond of George Burns will be at no disadvantage whilst watching the show. Proving that good humor lasts the test of time, Say Goodnight, Gracie is as funny to those hearing the jokes for the first time as it is for those who have heard them a million. Those nervous about committing to ninety minutes of one man talking will be amazed at just how quickly that time passes and how thoroughly absorbed they will find themselves in the stories being told. Finally, Centre City audiences should not shun the journey away from Broad Street, as Act II is less than thirty minutes away from the heart of Philadelphia.

 

Say Goodnight, Gracie is the stuff great theatre is made of. The passion of the playwright, actor and production team coats every word and movement on stage, leaving the audience touched and intrigued long after Burns signs off with his titular, signature farewell.