Sharon Lawrence in “The Shot” at New Jersey Repertory Company
The New Jersey Repertory Company produces many new plays some of which enjoy a world premiere and then go on to other theaters. Although this show is not a world premiere, it appears they have again struck gold with their current offering, The Shot. This show should be one that is seen in other theaters and by many people. It is that good.
The play, written by Robin Gerber is directed by Michelle Joyner. It tells the story of the early life of Washington Post Publisher Katherine Graham. It is a one person play with the role of Graham brilliantly portrayed by popular award winning actress Sharon Lawrence. The Shot is a look back at the woman who achieves great heights with the Post but who suffers abuse at the hands of her husband culminating in his suicide.
But what makes the play that good? Look for how the story is told, the staging, and Sharon Lawrence’s performance as the storyteller.
Background: The Shot received its first public reading in Los Angeles in March of 2020. But then COVID hit, shutting down the performance. Over a period of months, the creative team continued working on the script and produced a video reading of The Shot which also stared Sharon Lawrence. This reading raised over $25K for participating domestic violence non-profits.
In October 2021 it received a developmental workshop at Santa Barbara’s Center Stage Theater. This past June, The Shot premiered at Great Barrington Public Theatre receiving critical praise.
How the Story is Told: The story in this play is about the early life of Katherine Graham. As we hear about how she grew up, we start to see the beginnings of a very traditional background for women of that era. However, her interest in journalism and her studies in college start to dispel that traditional mindset. She has an interest in covering stories that make an impact such as covering a strike. But her father who now is the owner of the Washington Post does not see it the same way. He is more pleased to see his daughter do less important roles on a newspaper.
A significant event occurs when she meets the man who becomes her husband, Philip Graham.The fine writing of this script comes into play as Katherine describes the moment she met Philip and how impressive he was. Many glowing adjectives explain the wonderful feelings she experienced. However, those wonderful feelings are not present when she and Philip have their first sexual encounter. Her description of that painful event shows the early signs of a man who is self centered. But being a woman of that time, she accepts it and thinks that’s the way it is.
After she and Philip marry, her father hands over the role of publisher of the Washington Post to his new son-in-law. Not a mention is made of Katherine taking it on even though she has a journalism background compared to Philip’s background as a lawyer. Would that fly today? Probably not. But in that post World War II time period, it was the custom of the day. Thus begins her life as a housewife soon to become a mother to four children. She also has the task and a very large one of taking care of her husband whose alcoholism and lack of confidence make her life difficult. This gives way to some very tragic parts of The Shot eventually leading to Philip’s suicide.
The Staging: The Shot was not on the official season listing for The NJ Rep. They were planning to be in production for their next show Our Shrinking, Shrinking World. However, when the opportunity became available for them to produce The Shot, they took it. In order to accommodate both shows, the lobby is now a studio theater. This smaller, more intimate seating and stage area add a special intimacy to the play.
The set is a basic desk and chair which allows the scene to change quickly and without scenery changes. A warning is in the playbill and announced before the show begins that there is a gun representation in the show. The gun is not real. Instead it is a stage prop specifically made to look like a rifle. Wisely, it is behind a wall on one side of the stage until it is used in the play.
Sharon Lawrence as Katherine Graham: One person plays are not easy to perform. All the action and dialog rests on the one performer. Sharon Lawrence is that one performer as she becomes the storyteller. Her transformation into Katherine Graham is very well done. She wears a wig to represent hairstyles of the time and one dress serves as the costume throughout the play.
Outstanding is the actual verbal delivery and the pacing needed to emphasize emotions of the scenes. Her explanations of how she tried to take care of her husband and bolster his confidence are heartbreaking at time. The reflections of the abuse, both mental and physical, are difficult moments in the show.
The experience of handling guns and hearing the fatal shot that kills Philip climaxes the show to a tragic level. Ms. Lawrence does a superb performance of a woman who must accept what has happened and try to move on from there.
Tickets for The Shot. This show runs through April 23. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 3 pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. To purchase tickets, call 732-229-3166 or visit the NJ Rep website.
NJ Repertory Company is located at 179 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ.
The running time is 75 minutes with no intermission.
