Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks
Belasco Theatre111 W 44 Street
29 October 2003 Opening night
Mark Hamill, Polly Bergen
'Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks' is the company Lily Harrison (Polly Bergen) hires to send an instructor to her St Petersburg, Florida condo. Lily is the widow of a southern Baptist minister, and is confused, then astounded and a bit insulted when brash, wise-cracking Michael Minetti (Mark Hamill) shows up to teach her. The play, in two acts, four scenes each, follows their changing relationship.
Throughout the play, there are constants… Lily and Michael argue about something, the downstairs neighbour rings to complain about the dancing ('No, the Clydesdale horses are not here for a return engagement!'), and, of course, a new dance is learned. Things are not what they seem to be… Michael is not married to a vet that works at the Seminole Cat, Dog, Bird, and Snake Animal Hospital- he describes himself as a 'passive-aggressive queen with a bad attitude'; Lily admits that her husband has been dead for six years. They share other secrets that help change, and strengthen, their relationship. From the bickering, sniping and arguing, they emerge as good friends. Lily and Michael slowly realise that the differences between them are not so vast, as each once assumed. The final scene closes with Michael and Lily dancing slowly in front of the window with the sun setting.
Mark and Polly are well-paired in this comedy; they play their characters very well. Yes, there is some stereotyping. It is part of the characterization. So were the costumes. From Michael's loud 'Hawaiian' shirt worn when teaching 'contemporary dances' ('I don't know how you define contemporary, but the Beach Boys broke up twenty years ago!') to the evening skirt and top Lily wears for the waltz lesson. And while this is a comedy, and the audience laughed quite a bit, I could see this working equally well without all the laughs.
Would I see the play again? I already have. You should, too.