by Dan Mayer
As America becomes more politically divided, it’s a great time for art to explore our national identity, our values, and the flawed system that governs us. Tracy Letts’ The Minutes is a dark political satire for our time, and The Two Of Us Productions delivers an affecting performance that leaves the audience with a lot to think about.
The premise is simple enough: a city council meeting in small town America. From that simple premise, Letts brings the audience into the comical absurdity of bureaucracy and small-town politics, the big egos and personal agendas, and ultimately the horrors of corruption and the lengths some people will go to maintain the status-quo. While we aren’t given a real time and place, the story feels even more relevant today than it did when it premiered in 2017. It’s sharp satire that will stick with you long after the cast has given their bows and left the room.
The Marilyn and Bob Laurie Gallery at Claverack Library makes for an intimate space for live theater, which lends a sense of immediacy and reality to the occasionally surreal narrative. The set is a realistic recreation of a conference room where the council would meet, simple and clean, the only notable adornments being a painting of a historical battle on the back wall, and the large American flag that stands in the corner.
“The Minutes” by Tracy Letts, directed by Stephen Sanborn, and presented by The Two Of Us Productions & Roving Actors’ Repertory Ensemble (RARE) Inc. 
“The Minutes” by Tracy Letts, directed by Stephen Sanborn, and presented by The Two Of Us Productions & Roving Actors’ Repertory Ensemble (RARE) Inc. 
“The Minutes” by Tracy Letts, directed by Stephen Sanborn, and presented by The Two Of Us Productions & Roving Actors’ Repertory Ensemble (RARE) Inc. 
“The Minutes” by Tracy Letts, directed by Stephen Sanborn, and presented by The Two Of Us Productions & Roving Actors’ Repertory Ensemble (RARE) Inc. 
“The Minutes” by Tracy Letts, directed by Stephen Sanborn, and presented by The Two Of Us Productions & Roving Actors’ Repertory Ensemble (RARE) Inc. 
“The Minutes” by Tracy Letts, directed by Stephen Sanborn, and presented by The Two Of Us Productions & Roving Actors’ Repertory Ensemble (RARE) Inc. 
“The Minutes” by Tracy Letts, directed by Stephen Sanborn, and presented by The Two Of Us Productions & Roving Actors’ Repertory Ensemble (RARE) Inc. 
The technical direction and operation (Stephen Sanborn) is fairly sophisticated for a space that doesn’t seem typically set up for theater. The show calls for some very specific lighting and sound cues that emulate the growing thunderstorm outside, and they proved very effective for heightening the performance.
A few actors stood out in the cast. Benjamin Kirk (Mr. Brian Peel) works well as the relative newcomer to the council, feeling like a fish out of water in the best way. Brian Wagner (Mayor John Superba) gives a subtle but effective performance, coming off as warm and gregarious for most of the show, but suitably sinister during the second act turn. Constance Lopez (Ms. Harriet Hanratty) adds a sly sarcasm to her character, keeping the performance fairly grounded.
If there’s a weakness to this performance, it’s that everyone feels a little too subdued given how absurd the characters can be at times. The material lends itself to a bit more bombast and silliness, at least through the first act, and the dramatic turn of act two could use more time to breathe. It’s possible this was a deliberate choice by director Stephen Sanborn to keep things more down-to-earth, but the cast could have played with the comedic bits a little more, and still slowed down to give the second act the weight it deserves.
All in all, this is an effective and intimate performance of an unforgettable script. If you haven’t seen The Minutes before, this is a great opportunity to experience it up close and personal.
The Two Of Us Productions presents The Minutes by Tracy Letts, directed by Stephen Sanborn, runs from June 12 – 21st, at Claverack Library, 629 NY-23B in Claverack, NY. Cast: Brian Wagner as Mayor Superba, Diane Boice-Yorck as Clerk Johnson, Benjamin Kirk as Mr. Peel, Mark Leinung as Mr. Carp, Judith Wyatt at Ms. Innes, Daniel Wyatt as Mr. Oldfield, Mason Lowe as Mr. Assalone, John Peterson as Mr. Breeding, Constance Lopez as Ms. Hanratty, Leigh Fisher-Troche as Ms. Matz, and Brian Yorck as Mr. Blake
Produced by The Two Of Us Productions & Roving Actors’ Repertory Ensemble (RARE) Inc. Costume Mistress: Constance Lopez. Assistant to the Director: Patricia Fisher. House Management: Jill Leinung. Technical Director: Stephen Sanborn. Stage Manager: George Spelvin. Props Acquisition: RARE Inc., The Company. Costumes: The Cast. Food Services: Paul Parillo & Chatham Provisions. Publicity: Michael Dunnell, Constance Lopez, Peter Mostachetti, Stephen Sanborn, The Cast, The Claverack Library.
Performance dates are Friday through Sunday, June 12-14 and 19-21. Friday and Saturday curtains are at 7:30 pm, and Sundays are matinees only at 3:00 pm. Tickets are $20, or $15 for students and seniors, and group rates are available. Runs approximately two hours with a 15 minute intermission. Contains strong language. Tickets are available online. Visit https://www.thetwoofusproductions.org/ for more information.