by Macey Levine
At the opening of Spinning My Wheels at Bridge Street Theatre’s SoloFest, writer and performer Michael Garfield Levine enters singing “Fly Me to The Moon” accompanying Frank Sinatra’s recording. He tells us this is his father’s favorite song. Levine, however, has a different trip he ultimately takes.
He is an actor who has appeared at various regional theatres, in films, on television (Law and Order, The Sopranos, and soap operas,) but Levine’s life story is a drama all by itself. He grew up in Vermont, attended college there, getting a degree in theatre. His life, however, centered on bikes. When he was a young man he bought a bike and through the various phases of life it was home. Over the years he had several bikes; he road hundreds of thousands of miles through the country including a two-day trip from the east to west coast, a ride up Mount Washington struggling through snow, bike races galore. It was his way to get away from his life. Though riding was an important element, it pales in comparison to the traumas he encountered.
As a young man he lived hard, drinking a great deal, smoking, using pot, finally falling into psychiatric disorders. At the urging of two wives he reluctantly pursued solutions. Nancy, his second wife, was a meditation counselor. Though he tried to please her he wasn’t willing to accept the practice. Levine takes us on an epic journey through some of the most painful experiences a human can confront. He relates his soul-searching frustrations as he tells us of his pain, doubts, fears, and, ultimately, redemption thanks to the people around him.
Levine is a charismatic actor. He entrances an audience with his quips, charm and, especially, honesty. His conscience is laid bare in front of people whom he does not know in an ingratiating and charming manner. It takes a lot of guts to do this. The audience is rapt as he sharers his innermost human tribulations.
A couple of quibbles, however. Occasionally, especially in highly emotional moments, he swallows the ends of sentences so that we don’t fully understand what he’s saying or where he’s going.
Regardless, it is a performance to be remembered.
Reviewer’s note: Bridge Street Theatre does adventurous work, as do other theatres in this area. We sat with people who were attending Bridge Street for the first time. As we were leaving these several people said they were very impressed and would return. Lucky them.
Spinning My Wheels, written and performed by Michael Garfield Levine, directed by Caitlin Langstaff, was presented at Bridge Street Theatre, 44 West Bridge Street in Catskill, NY, March 24-26, 2023, as a part of their 2023 SoloFest.
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Bridge Street Theatre’s SoloFest is a month-long program (having started the first weekend in March and continuing through the last weekend) features solo performances on Friday and Saturday evenings and a Sunday matinee. Information for the final play is listed below.
March 31 – April 2
ALONE: STORIES FROM EDGAR ALLAN POE
Created and performed by Daniel Hall Kuhn
The horror, the horror! Poems and tales from America’s master of the macabre come thrillingly to life in this one-man show created and performed by an actor BST audiences will recognize from LEWISTON and SHELLEY’S SHADOW.
Fridays &Saturdays at 7:30 P.M.
Sundays at 2:00 P.M.
Tickets at BridgeStreetTheatre.org