Magic Theatre
Few can aspire to own a multimillion dollar Manhattan co-operative
space on New York’s Fifth Avenue. Yet, it is fascinating
to consider that, even in such elevated ranks of society,
discrimination and bias persist against those trying to reach
the top. Charles Grodin’s play, which premieres at Magic
in November, reveals the dark side of the lifestyles of the
rich and famous.
Grodin is well-known for playing memorable characters on stage
and screen. He’s also a director, writer, and acerbic
raconteur. Grodin has starred in hit movies ranging from Rosemary’s
Baby and Catch 22 to The Heartbreak Kid
and Midnight Run, where he held his own opposite Robert
DeNiro. The Right Kind of People relates to an earlier
work, The Co-Op Chronicles, which Grodin wrote after
his own run-ins with a co-op board.
"I either personally witnessed or can vouch that all
the behavior of these bastions of legally sanctioned bigotry
is true,” Grodin said of co-op boards.
The notoriously exclusive resident councils that run some
of Manhattan’s co-ops wield a lot of power over who can
purchase units and live in their extremely desirable buildings.
New York is rife with rumors and media reports about the legendary
snobbery of such boards.
Out on the street, gossip runs rampant about which snooty
board has turned down which celebrities or wealthy hopefuls.
Some boards use highly questionable and arbitrary criteria
to reject applicants and can toss someone out if they don’t
like their attitude or aesthetics.
Magic’s Artistic Director Chris Smith directs The
Right Kind of People. Smith also directed The Co-Op
Chronicles. In the play, a surrogate father and son face
a crisis over issues of integrity. Much of the action revolves
around the antics of co-op board members who make decisions
based on race, gender, and social status, yet fail to discuss
or acknowledge their biased judgments.
Starting on November 10, Magic’s Literary Manager Mark
Routhier offers a four-week class on Grodin’s new play
at Book Passage in Marin county. It’s possible that Grodin
may appear at one of the classes as he often resides in the
area.
"If I have to leave home, there’s no place I’d
rather go than San Francisco,” said Grodin.
Marvel at how the upper two percent lives in The Right
Kind of People. Refer to
November 13 and www.magictheatre.org
for all the facts. For more information about the class, visit
www.bookpassage.com.
— Claudia Willen
An Evening With Charles Grodin
Author, actor, and director Charles Grodin talks about life,
art, and politics with ABC-7 news anchor Pete Wilson. All
proceeds from this event benefit End Hunger Now. See November
15.
Image: Ken Ruta & Robert Parsons in The Right Kind
of People, Photo: Bill Faulkner
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