seminar

Through June 14 - Seminar at the SF Playhouse.  Ah, the thrill of being a writer, of laying your soul bare on the page and then sending it out into the world to be loved or loathed or (at worst) met with ambivalence.  This anxiety lies at the center of Theresa Rebeck's Seminar, directed here by Amy Glazer, in which a quartet of young writers seek acceptance and/or criticism from Leonard, a famous author who meets with them in a private weekly class.  The dialogue crackles with contentious energy as Leonard alternately rips work to shreds (I've never laughed so hard at a line about a semicolon) and doles out sparing compliments in a haphazard manner seemingly based more on sex appeal than actual talent.  The actors are at their best when they're rapidly swapping barbs amongst each other, but I was less than sold on a final scene between Leonard and one of the aspirants where earlier issues are resolved just a little too neatly.  Overall though I thoroughly enjoyed the sharp script and the ensemble cast, and I especially appreciated Rebeck's deep dive into the writerly mind (and ego).