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A
whole bunch of brutal honesty happens when two former high-school sweethearts, coincidentally
meet at a bar and head over to her apartment for some more  | | AMY K. HARMON & MICHAEL GRANT TERRY |
conversation. This
would sound innocent, but, in the real world, we all know better. Mary-Ellen
(Amy K. Harmon) and Jim (Michael Grant Terry) get together at a bar and later
to Mary-Ellen’s single apartment. Before she lets Jim in, she furiously turn on
all the lamps, does some emergency house cleaning before she lets him in. They
are both nervous and haven’t seen each in nine years. Jim is clearly nervous as
he continues his endless chatter. Mary-Ellen offers him a drink to calm down
and he quickly shoots it down and pours another one. A lot has happened since
high school which makes Mary-Ellen a bit ashamed.
She
flaunts her well-toned body by wearing a tight-fitting, lace mini dress with a
sheer white shirt and some super tall heels. What’s Jim to do but drool and
have dirty thoughts on what they will do later. In the meantime, he quizzes her
on what she’s been doing since their last meeting. No. She didn’t become a
journalist. Yes. She tried to get into the game but, lately, in this economy
it’s too hard. When it’s her turn, Jim goes on and on how well he’s been doing
in the company. Jim and his all-American good looks have gotten him far in
business. He’s married, has a son and owns a starter home. In his mind, he
should be running things because he knows what to do and how to do it.
Mary-Ellen suddenly feels out-of-place because she works retail at Urban
Outfitters and has no husband or child. Never mind the fact she doesn’t like
children.
They
test each other out, carefully, strategically. A glance, a look, until they can
no longer keep it inside. They kiss deeply with no abandon. He feels her up and
down grabbing her, almost for dear life. Everything is going moderately well, until
Mary-Ellen asks if she’s the kind of woman men would marry. He responds, “You
don’t have it together.” Ouch! She
 | | AMY K. HARMON & MICHAEL GRANT TERRY |
retaliates by talking about his wife Kathy,
young son and how Kathy believes Jim is in Atlanta. He teases that Mary-Ellen
should call Kathy and tell her where he is really at and with whom. Jim admits
that’s he’s lonely and aches for conversation and wants to feel something. He
has been numb since the birth of his son two years ago.
Harmon
and Terry make a great pair. In character, Jim needs to feel safe and assured
and Mary-Ellen wants someone to make her feel special and worthwhile. They both
are looking for their fix in each other. They are so desperate to be fulfilled
they don’t realize it may not happen, but try anyways. All this is too much for
Mary-Ellen to digest but she does. In the end, she gives Jim and herself what
they need
All Your Hard Work runs
until Saturday, August 25, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. The
Elephant Stages - Lillian Theatre is located at 6322 Santa Monica Blvd (Santa Monica & 1076
Lillian Way) Los Angeles. Tickets are $20 and available either
by calling (213) 290-2782 or go on line at www.brimmerstreet.org
Photo Credit: MICHAEL LAMONT
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