4,000 Miles

Beth Dixon as Vera

The Philadelphia Theatre Company, located in the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at Broad and Lombard Streets, is presenting the OBIE Award winning 4,000 Miles by Amy Herzog through November 10.   Expect the unexpected and you will be right on target.  Leo, portrayed by Davy Raphaely, appears on his grandmother’s doorstep in Greenwich Village at 3:00 AM after having biked cross-country.  His grandmother Vera, played by Beth Dixon, is more than a little surprised to see him at such an hour without warning, but manages to take the situation in stride… (particularly if you overlook her snide comments and chuckle along with the rest of the audience). The teen and his grandmother make strange roommates, but her acerbic wit and Beth Dixon’s commanding presence on the stage make this production much more than an exercise in intergenerational dynamics.  Beth gives us a glimpse into what old age be might be like for someone who refuses to lie back and acknowledge it…. the deliberateness of movement that never slows her down, the refusal to use new technology without losing interest in it, and the knowledge that she can get away with saying many more things than she could when she was younger. This one act intimately peels back the layers of Vera’s and Leo’s lives as they interact in her apartment.   Also featured in the cast are Leigha Kato as Amanda and Shannon Marie Sullivan as Bec.  Jason Simms did an excellent job as Scenic Designer, for the apartment has the feel of several rooms with entrances and egresses to the center stage. Accomplished Lighting Designer Thom Weaver lights up the set vibrantly. Although Amy Herzog has written a well-crafted drama loosely based upon her grandmother,  its comedic lines are brilliant. Laughter rings throughout the theatre for most of the performance. For more information or tickets call 215-985-0420 or visit online at PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org.