Dinner with a friend or a long lost and former long time mentor can have its moments. 

However, when it’s co-written by multitalented comic, character, and voiceover actor Wallace Shawn and actor, director and playwright André Gregory, it becomes an intriguing venture into the power of theatre.

Harbor Stage Company presents an original adaptation of My Dinner with André live and in person at the Boston Center for the Arts in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, March 30.  This production is 90 minutes with no intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

The “inconceivable” villain Vizzini in film classic The Princess Bride, the voice of Rex the dinosaur in the Toy Story series, and Young Sheldon’s eccentric physics mentor are just a few of Wallace Shawn’s most popular roles.  Though My Dinner With André was created before these later successes, this critically acclaimed 1981 indie film starring Shawn and Gregory in the title roles gained its own cult following, especially among theatre lovers.  Wallace’s voice and presence is always distinctive and the writing in this piece offers glimpses of that intellectual charm, wit and humor in little moments of life’s realizations and nuances.  However, it should be noted that these two characters are not necessarily patterned after this co-writing duo, even if they are named after them.

Harbor Stage Company received special permission from Wallace Shawn and André Gregory to adapt this film to the stage for the first time in the United States and it translates beautifully.  It transforms it into theatre within a theatre experience and this adaptation is so naturally done, that it is hard to imagine that Dinner with André was not originally a stage production.   

Set in a stylish corner booth enhanced by John Malinowski’s soft and atmospheric lighting, Evan Farley elegantly creates an authentic upscale restaurant ambiance.  Framed reflective mirrors above the colorful booth and fine details of the embossed crown molding complete this inviting set design as classical music including Satie’s Gymnopédie plays gently in the background.

Jonathan Fielding portrays anxious out of work actor Wallace who is dreading having dinner at a fancy French restaurant in New York City with Robert Knopf as André, mainly because Wallace is not sure what to expect.  What transpires is a sophisticated three course meal that dives deep into life’s mysterious meaning, city life, the art of theatre, the artists’ past experiences, and philosophizes about what is truly important as the next adventurous course is served.  Their exchanges on humans and robots seem timeless as if this production was written yesterday.

My Dinner with André makes thought provoking observations on theatre and how it applies to and reflects reality and the conversation often veers into an unexpected direction which could come off  as awkward had not been for the skilled instincts of these two actors and their observance and self aware comic timing.  Gregory tells outlandish stories about his life experiences and experiments and how it relates to theatre.  Wallace seems a little more guarded and the bemused look on Fielding’s face as Andre’s stories get more bizarre perhaps reflects the audience’s amazement among those anticipating a twist.

While Fielding’s Wallace is frank and forthright with a casual charisma as he engages the audience, Knopf’s charisma lies in his intimate and confiding demeanor with Fielding and warm exchanges with Robin Bloodworth as the attentive waiter. André seems more of an adventurer in search for greater meaning while Wallace is contented in the little things.  Knopf can certainly hold an audience in his deep and animated exchanges with Fielding and their good natured debating is always done with mutual respect. 

Cut out all the noise and have dinner with André, especially if you love theatre.  My Dinner with André blends insightful banter, witty dialogue and subtle humor into a memorable reunion among friends.

Harbor Stage Company presents an original adaptation of My Dinner with André live and in person at the Boston Center for the Arts in Boston, Massachusetts through Sunday, March 30.  This production is 90 minutes with no intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.