In this production, written as a live interview in front of an audience which is us chickens, Bryggman is without pretense of any sort. This is important because he is our conduit to Nevelson, to her flare, her bitterness, her core. It is off of Bryggman that Ruehl bounces. While we are the true and present audience, Bryggman is her raison d'être. Without him, she would have no buffer. Without him, there would only be us, and Nevelson would not have opened herself to just us chickens.

But she does have him, and she pours herself out all over this stage. She pours and pours and pours until you wonder how the world was big enough to hold Nevelson. She was bigger than her artwork and still is, and yet here she is not intimidating. As she delivers herself to Bryggman, and through him to us, Nevelson is inspiring, life filling.

This is a play to make you think outside your own box. This is a play to change your own walk into a stride.

Edward Albee's Occupant

By Edward Albee; directed by Pam MacKinnon; sets by Christine Jones; costumes by Jane Greenwood; lighting by David Lander; makeup design by Angelina Avallone; production stage manager, Lloyd Davis Jr.; associate artistic director, Beth Whitaker; general manager, Adam Bernstein; production manager, Paul Ziemer. Presented by the Signature Theater Company, James Houghton, artistic director; Erika Mallin, executive director. At the Peter Norton Space, 555 West 42nd Street, Clinton; (212) 244-7529. Through July 13. Running time: 1 hour 50 minutes.

WITH: Mercedes Ruehl (as Louise Nevelson) and Larry Bryggman (as the Man).
This play was just extended through July 13 and you should go because you could do worse than see this exquisite play.