Review of "The Minutes" at Albany Civic Theater

by Katie Beltramo

Albany Civic Theater is presenting "The Minutes" by Pulitzer-winning playwright Tracy Letts (best known for "August: Osage County"). This approximately 90-minute play offers up comic moments that will be recognizeable to anyone who's attended a community meeting, a slow-burn mystery, and connections to current events that will provide plenty to think and talk about well after the play is over. While it's not for younger kids, this play offers an entertaining night out with a date or friends, and it's worth bringing your teens for the conversations it will spark.

As the play ended, my husband and I turned to each other, slightly stunned. "Well, that . . . took a turn," he said. "It sure did," I agreed. And I'm sorry: I don't want to tell you more! Because this play went somewhere I didn't expect, and I don't want to spoil it for you. I'd invited my husband along because his professional life requires him to attend many local meetings, and I thought that it would resonate. That was undoubtedly true: I think anyone could find the humor here, but if you're a person who's been to your fair share of town board, school board, or other meetings, the various characters become more hilarious because of their familiarity. If you've ever been at a meeting in which you've inwardly rolled your eyes at the unintended comic elements, it's particularly cathartic to have permission to laugh out loud, which many members of the audience did.

The play opens with Mr. Peel, a relative newcomer to the town of Big Cherry as well as a new member of the town council. He's got a young daughter and is excited to become an upstanding member of the community, proud to hold his first elective office, and also a recently joined member of the Kiwanis Club. He's missed a meeting, and he's trying to catch up with what happened and meeting a peculiar amount of resistance. Meanwhile, the rest of the council is busying themselves with council business, whether it's saying The Pledge of Allegiance or arguing over how to renovate the town's fountain or run their upcoming Heritage Festival. Among the council's assortment of characters, they share plenty of civic pride and their collective responsibility to uphold it.

One thing I love best about going to the theatre with teenagers is that it can spark conversations that you might not have in everyday life. Here are a few questions to get you started:

• What exactly do you think happened to Carp?
• What would you have done if you were a member of the council?
• If you'd made that choice, what do you think might have happened next? 
• Did any members of the council make choices you didn't expect? 
• Can you think of examples of stories you learned when you were very young that ended up more complicated than you expected?
• Can you think of examples happening now that remind you of the choices this town council has made?

However, depending on whom you're bringing with you, some cautions are required. There are offensive words including one use of the n-word, and there's a pretty upsetting description of violence. 

"The Minutes" is thought provoking, and if you didn't think that a play could be both comic and sinister by turns, you'll want to see it. Albany Civic Theater itself is a terrific setting, so small that every seat in the house is great, and it seemed that the audience was jam-packed with ardent supporters, including the woman sitting beside me who declared it her absolute favorite theater.

"The Minutes" is playing at Albany Civic Theater in Albany through Sunday, March 3rd. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 3 pm.  The show's run time is about one hour and 30 minutes without an intermission. For schedule and ticket information, call 518-462-1297 or visit albanycivictheater.org.

Photos by David Quiñones Jr. provided by Albany Civic Theater.

© 2024 Katie Beltramo.
Katie Beltramo, a mom of two, is communication director at Kids Out and About and blogs at Capital District Fun.