Split

And yet again, another play as a favorite book, ok I will stop complaining.  This favorite is Split by Michael Weller.  It is a two act play with the first act introducing the characters of Paul and Carol, whom have been married for seven years.  The scene begins in their home as they prepare for their friend Jean and her date to arrive for a dinner party that Paul and Carol are planning.  The problem is that Paul and Carol are in the midst of a terrible fight and Carol makes the suggestion that they cancel the dinner, though it is only ten minutes from the time Jean and her date are to arrive!  The couple have started down a bad path in which a small argument ends up in Carol sharing she had an affair with some distant person some time ago.  She is curious whether Paul has done the same, especially if it has been with Jean, to which Paul denies.  They seemingly make up prior to Jean’s arrival to the apartment and black out to end the act.  Act two begins two days later with a series of very short scenes with different characters chatting about “life after marriage between Paul and Carol.” A series of “how life offers new possibilities” and then ending with the last of the scenes where Paul and Carol are emptying out their apartment.  During the exchange there is a glimmer of hope that they could reconnect… as they say at the same moment, “Would you mind if I called?”  But with all good potential mending of fences, the phone rings and then the idea flickers away.  Overall the play is a choppy (some good moments and a bit all over the place) story with some funny moments, but pretty shallow, in my humble opinion.  Take a pass on this one and pick up a good novel!  Hey, Mandy Patinkin originated the role of Paul in the original in 1978 off-Broadway!  That may have been worth watching!