‘Zack’– Yay For the Underdog!

By Alix Cohen

This play sneaks up on one, its hero does not. Every minute Jordan Matthew Brown is onstage as Zack is captivating. The actor creates a sweet, bumbling, childlike young man for the ages. Hesitation, abashed deferment, and self effacement are organically reflected in expression and movement.

Brown’s focus is as natural as breathing. Isolated flickers of pleasure warm across footlights. His untucked state is as emotional as physical. Rather than emerging pitiable or a cartoon, the actor holds sympathetic attention and provokes curiosity. Humming and singing add to amiable personality against the odds.

Zack is the second son of widowed Mrs. Munning (Melissa Maxwell), whose indifferent, almost hostile behavior is difficult to understand. She and preferred progeny Paul (David T. Patterson) treat Zach like a servant, commanding and disparaging at every turn.

It seems as if Maxwell doesn’t know why her character behaves as she does. Without that ballast, the actress sometimes appears to be going through the motions. Patterson flamboyantly overacts throughout. The tone is right, but execution is way too big.

Paul runs what’s left of their father’s joining business (one who makes furniture, house fittings and other woodwork.) He’s selfish, pompous, and cruel. Mrs. Munning endeavors to find success as a caterer. She’s a fine cook but things keep going amiss. The family is financially strapped. Visiting by invitation, ostensibly for fresh country air, is rich, unpretentious- “Call me Ginny”- cousin, Virginia Cavender (Cassia Thompson).

Cassia Thompson’s Virginia is a little stiff at first, though adrift in a new environment, she might be just that. She’s less convincing accepting Paul, but ambivalence is at play. From there, the actress blooms. We watch with relish.

Mother Munning’s initial intention was to secure more clients through Virginia, but she revises her plan to secure marriage to Paul. The girl’s five hundred a year is more than enough to get the catering business back on its feet. Despite his cousin being attractive and pleasant, Paul only grudgingly agrees. He’s then repeatedly placed in Virginia’s path and praised by his mom.

Having seen him for what he is, Virginia refuses Paul’s initial approach. Uncharacteristic of the era, she admits to having her eyes
on Zach. Paul declares himself and takes credit for the roses his brother leaves in her room. Has she underestimated this suitor?

The day before an important catered event, Martha Wrigley (Grace Guichard) arrives in distress to tell the Munnings that her father, their waiter, has broken his arm. There’s no one else in the small community to sub…except Zack who tends to walk into and break things.

Paul is furious with Joe Wrigley (Sean Runnette) vowing never to hire him again. Zack, on the other hand, is delighted. He loves helping out, the cheer of occasions. When the others exit, Martha tells Zack her family needs the money; she’s starving. He instinctively wraps leftover tea scraps in a napkin and gives her the only money he has, a coin earned by fixing a pig sty. She
throws her arms around the passive boy and kisses him.

Grace Guichard skillfully imbues Martha with both seeming innocence and a subtle layer of calculation. Sean Runnette’s Wrigley might take the volume down, but is believably offended and gruffly paternal.

Mrs. Munning walks in and makes a crack about (the impossibility of) their getting married, which Zack reflexively matches. Neither intuits that Martha would like nothing more. She tells her father she’s to wed the younger Munning and returns with him. Accusations are made. Virginia is shocked and disappointed. She accepts a ring from Paul.

So- Virginia wants Zach but has Paul, Paul wants no one but will marry Jennie for the money, Zack wants Virginia but will wed Martha (in order not to hurt her feelings), Martha wants Paul but will settle for Zack as a step up in the world. The banns (the official announcement) are read in church. Martha acquires a wedding gown.

Mother Munning says she won’t be able to bear seeing Martha and Zach in the village. Paul plans to send them away- by steerage. When it turns out (a real zinger) that Zack would be essential to the success of their catering business, momentum screeches to a halt.

All this time Virginia is watching and recalculating. She neatly rearranges everything- including Zach. A scene where she takes him in hand is the best in the play, at the same time poignant and droll. Both actors excel.

Also featuring Caroline Festa, David Lee Huynh, and Douglas Rees

The play is twisty, entertaining, and satisfying.

Kudos to director Britt Burke for the cleverness of the beard scene- you’ll see. Characters are well defined if a couple are over the top. Pacing is good. Small stage business effective.

The Munning’s parlor (set) by Brittany Vasta is pretty, but a bit too feminine to decorate a house with two sons, even though the matriarch is widowed.
Excepting one yellow monstrosity and the fact that Virginia’s spectator pumps would never be worn with most of her clothes, Kindall Almond’s costumes are accurate and flattering.

Photos by Todd Cerveris

Zack
By Harold Brighouse (1882-1958)
Directed by Britt Berke
The Mint Theater Company
Theater Row 410 West 42nd Street
https://minttheater.org/
Through March 28, 2026