BWW Reviews: The Hollow Family - AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY

In his tragedy, "MacBeth," Shakespeare speaks of life as teeming with "sound and fury, signifying nothing." There is much "sound and fury" in this play, as each character spews forth long-borne resentments and long-held secrets, emptying themselves of their inner burdens all over the stage. But the result is not cathartic; one does not sense, for example, that Mattie Fae (Nancy Robinette)'s confession does her soul any good--her time has passed, and she is now just "old, ugly Aunt Mattie." It is the same for all--in releasing their pain, they find they have nothing left. Like T.S. Eliot's poem, they are "hollow."

"August: Osage County" continues its run at the new Everyman, 315 W. Fayette Street, now through Feb. 17^th. For tickets, visit www.everymantheatre.org or call 410-752-2208.

A communications professional for 25 years, Dan Collins was a theater critic for The Baltimore Examiner daily newspaper (2006-2009), covering plays throughout the Baltimore-Columbia area including Center Stage, The Everyman, The Fells Point Corner Theater, Mobtown Players, Vagabond Theater, Cockpit in Court, Spotlighters Theater, The Strand, Single Carrot Theater and others. Mr. Collins has been a reporter, features writer, editor and columnist since 1984, including stints with The Washington Times and the Times Publishing Group (later Patuxent Publishing and now part of The Baltimore Sun) in Baltimore. His freelance writing career has included his work for the Examiner as well as other publications including Baltimore Magazine.

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