Sigh. Sigh. Lots and lots of sigh. I really don't know what Second Stage was thinking with Cardinal. Okay, okay, that sounds a little too harsh but honestly, this play is all over the place thematically, has no tension or rising action, and is so dramatically inert. Second Stage is billing this as a world premiere, and quite frankly, it's clear this needed a few more workshops and readings before it was fit for public consumption. The plot is one that we've seen variations of dozens of times: a small town's (somewhere in upstate New York; Pierce never names it) economies is struggling so the mayor, Jeffrey, must come up with an idea to drum up revenue. His female advisor, Lydia, (at least I think that's what she's meant to be; again, Pierce never clarifies) who also grew up in the town decides it would be a great idea to literally paint the town red to attract tourists. (Why she has so much power to persuade and convince not only the mayor but the rest...
Theater reviews and commentary by Alyssa Maher.