‘Restoration’ frames a beauty and the beast

Claudia Shear romances the stony statue of Michelangelo's David

BY MICHAEL SOMMERS

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

OFF BROADWAY REVIEW

Ever since Claudia Shear arrived like a gust of fresh air with her semi-autobiographical "Blown Sideways Through Life" solo show and subsequent "Dirty Blonde" evocation of Mae West, this smart, delightfully offbeat writer-performer has specialized in depicting gutsy women.

Opening Wednesday at New York Theatre Workshop with the author in the leading role, Shear's "Restoration" is her latest account of a feisty dame making good.

Exiled to teaching art history in Brooklyn because of her big mouth, middle-aged Giulia is a specialist in restoring art treasures. Unexpectedly Giulia is awarded the plum year-long assignment of cleaning up every marble inch of Michelangelo's statue of David in time for its 500th birthday celebration in Florence.

Much as she's a pro, the frumpy art restorer all but swoons when she first touches David's perfect physique. "David is my boyfriend," says Giulia later. "The most beautiful man in the world is my senior prom's revenge, my no New Year's date payback. Now I'm the coolest. Look who I brought to the party!"

As the restoration job progresses, the abrasive Giulia clashes with a chic publicist (Tina Benko), collides with a cultural minister (Natalija Nogulich) and strikes sparks with Max (Jonathan Cake), the hunky head of museum security who proves to be deeper than his wolfish manner suggests. All sorts of fascinating details about the creation and history of David are neatly worked into the story.

Yet for all of this absorbing stuff and a very handsome production by director Christopher Ashley, "Restoration" doesn't pack sufficient dramatic pop to really satisfy. Perhaps Shear's writing does not make Giulia obsessive enough. Maybe Giulia's relationship with Max needs to be more complex. Injecting a sense of danger or significant personal change might bring the story to stronger life.

Whatever, when the 90-minute show ends, your feeling is likely to be "Well, that was all right, but..."

As usual, Shear is a formidable yet appealing presence as the prickly Giulia, whose acrid tones soften only when she romances the stony David. Cake's graying Italian stallion saunters through the play with assurance. Benko and Nogulich are stylish as Giulia's not so mean antagonists. Alan Mandell enjoyably portrays Giulia's "excellent snob" of a mentor as if he were John Gielgud's grander brother.

Designer Scott Pask deals imaginatively with presenting David as encased in scaffolding and otherwise provides chaste premises for the drama.

"Restoration" continues through June 13 at New York Theatre Workshop, 79 E. 4th St., New York. Call (212) 279-4200 or visit www.nytw.org.