Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf-revised

Many view Valentines Day as a stereotypical day of romance: roses, candlelit dinners, chocolates etc. The decision to set the opening night of the Whole Art Theater’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” on Valentine’s Day offers a different view of love, with a close look at the interaction of two couples in a position of having nothing to lose and a lot to get out in the open.
Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” portrays the raw truth about relationships, offering a deeper look into two couples that from the outside seem to be living normal American lives. George and Martha are the older couple, both with ties to the university in town, Nick and Honey, at a party and invite them over for drinks. Things begin normally, but as time passes and both couples become more and more drunk, George and Martha begin to use their company as an audience to whom they can air their troubles. The evening continues to spiral downward with much airing of dirty laundry, with the situation seemingly evolving into a competition over who can disgrace themselves the most. Drinking in excess all the while, the two couples tear into each other, as well as each lashing out at their own spouses, until the dam finally breaks and the evening ends.
Albee’s classic play is brought to life at the Whole Art under the direction of Randy Wolfe, offering another look at a show that has been well-known for more then four decades. George and Martha (played by Richard Philpot and Martie Groat Philpot respectively) put everything out in the open, and the chemistry between the Philpots (real life husband and wife) only adds to the shocking pull no punches style of the play. Both give convincing performances, making viewers admire the acting, if not the behavior of the characters themselves. Nick (played by Trevor Maher) is an awkward character with much bravado, and while Maher seems ill-suited for the role, he plays him well as a character while doing his part to defend himself and his wife against the onslaught of emotions brought forth by George and Martha. His wife Honey (played by Carol Zombro) is awkward and mousy, with large emotional swings and a strong liking for brandy. Zombro plays the character to an extreme, giving Honey a cartoonish quality at times, but it works within the play because everything around her is strong and over the top as well. She is able to make Honey a character that the audience both pities and is annoyed by, which makes play all the more interesting to watch. The chemistry between Maher and Zombro is not nearly that between the Philpots, but their awkward relationship seems fitting.
The Whole Art’s version of this play is styled in-the-round, and it leaves no place to hide: the audience surrounds the stage and views the show from all angles as the storyline plays out. On a set portraying a simple living room, with one of the most important pieces of furniture being the shelf where the numerous liquor bottles are stored, the actors bring Albee’s classic play to life over the course of three hours.
The play is long to some, with only two 10-minute intermissions, and the plot may be a bit confusing at points, but the quality of acting along with the shock and awe of the story line and dialogue, will keep most viewers’ attention throughout.