Disney actress Jodi Benson (“The Little Mermaid”) and Marcia Mitzman Gaven star in the Off-Broadway production of “Pals,” which is being played at the DR2 Theatre in New York City.
Benson plays Bernie opposite Gaven as Mags. This show was written by Michael Griffo and it was directed by SuzAnne Barabas.
These ladies are part of the final rotating cast of actors for these roles (each two weeks a different set of performers took on these two characters). The play officially ends on Sunday, March 15th.
Ever since they were teenagers, Bernie and Mags shared every part of their lives together, which include their innermost secrets… their first crushes, relationships, marriages, children, and the drama that came in their personal lives, and even their health and medical scares.
In this heartwarming production of “Pen Pals,” Bernie and Mags live in two different countries (United States and England respectively), they haven’t met in person yet, but they are best friends through their sincere and revelatory letters to one another.
Jodi Benson knocked it out of the ballpark as Bernie… she was youthful and playful in the beginning, witty as necessary, and sentimental and understanding in the emotional moments. Benson also nailed several lines that were quite a mouthful.
Benson’s acting ran the gamut and she worked well opposite a lovely and appealing Marcia Mitzman Gaven as Mags. Without giving too much away, several moments in the show really tug at the heartstrings so the audience ought to have a box of Kleenex handy next to them.
The Verdict
Overall, Jodi Benson and Marcia Mitzman Gaven delivered compelling acting performances in “Pen Pals,” where they brought out the rawness and the humanity in these characters.
Most importantly, they made Bernie and Mags their own and they kept the script fresh as they commanded the DR2 Theatre stage for the play’s entire 82-minute duration. It was a bittersweet, cathartic, and healing theatrical experience.
To quote the play itself, both ladies were “positively penpalish.” It is highly recommended that one sees Jodi Benson and Marcia Mitzman Gaven in “Pen Pals” before the play officially closes this Sunday. They will not be disappointed. They earned an A rating for a job well done.
For more information on the Off-Broadway play “Pen Pals,” visit the official website.
