I was fortunate enough to attend opening night of “Bob & Jean: A Love Story” at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor on Saturday, and I’m so glad I did.
The acting was high caliber, as was the stage management (big ups to lights, sounds, scenic and costume design too) and the charm of the leads kept me absolutely enthralled. Brava to Mary Mattison, Jake Bentley Young and Scott Wentworth for not only entertaining us, but drawing us in and making us care about the characters.
The new work, written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan, who lives in Sag Harbor, tells the story of his parent’s real-life courtship. Using their actual circa-World War II love letters as the primary reference, its setting and plot unfolding is something that we’ll most likely never experience again.
Because there’s no immediacy – via cell calls, texts, social media, email, Facetime, etc. – the tale of Bob and Jean’s deepening bond is instead filled with a legitimate constancy and longing that I’m guessing would be hard for the i-generation to grasp. It’s lovely storytelling, and shared in an intimate way that invites the audience in and keeps them rapt.
Staged in co-operation with the Arizona Theater Company, and directed by Matt August, Bob & Jean is a sweet, sentimental success. Go see it!
Production photos: Tim Fuller
Next up at Bay Street in June:
New Works Festival
Title Wave: The New Works Festival
June 2—June 13, 2025
Comedy Series
Ophira Eisenberg
June 21, 2025 at 8:00pm
2025 Summer Season
Deceived
June 24—July 20, 2025
Music Mondays
An Evening with Betty Buckley and Christian Jacob
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