Theater Review: 'The Language Archive'

You ever had one of those times when the word is on the tip of your tongue, standing right at the precipice between the subconscious part of your brain and the conscious part, but try as you might, damnit! You just can't think of the words?

"The Language Archive" by Julia Choi takes that scenario and turns it into two very muddled hours. George (Matt Letscher) is a linguist who has trouble communicating with his wife (oh the delicious irony!), Mary (Heidi Schreck) who leaves him.

Meanwhile, George's coworker, Emma (Betty Gilpin) is in love with him, a feeling that only intensifies as they try to get an old married couple, Alta (Jayne Houdy Shell) and Resten (John Horton) to speak to each other in their native tongues, a language that is soon to be extinct.

And there's the conundrum, George is more obsessed with saving an ancient language than his marriage.

The cast play their parts well. Letscher, in particular, effectively sells George's passion for language and his frustration at not being able to keep his wife. The conflict comes through in his performance which is multifaceted. Other highlights include John Horton in multiple roles, most notable as Resten who reminded me of many a grandfather, lovable and kind of rude.

The entire play seems to be an exercise in the perfect language, the way those who love language wish that people would speak. Because of this fanciful quality, some parts, such as when Mary tells Emma the story of how she becomes a baker (don't ask, takes too long), is clunky. The unnatural nature of the dialogue drags the production sometimes.

It's obvious Cho is in love with her own prose, which at times is fluid and beautiful. Sadly, she trades language for a coherent plot, putting something together that reads like a series of whimsical events that seems to smack the viewer over the head with its preciousness.

There's even a lovable old couple, Alta and Resten, who choose not to argue in their native tongue because it's too sacred for curse words. So they argue in English, the perfect language for ugly thoughts. While the sentiment may be humorous (and kind of true), it doesn't make it any less contrived.

The second act is more haphazardly put together than the first, with developments that border on saccharine. "The Language Archive" is a cotton candy confection of a play, sweet and not overtly complicated.

I will give Cho credit for not ending the play on too much of a cliched note. By the time the final spot-line shines down, there is still a feeling of things regrettably left unsaid, like many a half-formed thought.

Details
What: The Language Archive presented by the Roundabout Theatre Company
When: through Dec. 19
Where
Harold and Miriam Steinberg
Center for Theatre
111 W. 46th St., New York, NY
(212) 719-1300
Discount:
For any theater-goer age 18 to 35 can get any show at the Roundabout for only $20 or less! Just sign up for HIPTIX.