The_AT Past_NN1 Comes_VVZ Alive_JJ ,_, Frozen_VVN in_II a_AT1 Frame_NN1 Pithy_JJ little_JJ life_NN1 lessons_NN2 keep_VV0 coming_VVG at_II you_PPY in_II Michael_NP1 Jacobs_NP2 's_GE "_" Impressionism_NN1 ,_, "_" as_CS21 if_CS22 off_II a_AT1 conveyor_NN1 belt_NN1 in_II a_AT1 greeting_NN1 card_NN1 factory_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT one_PN1 most_RRT immediately_CS relevant_JJ to_II this_DD1 undernourished_JJ play_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ stars_VVZ an_AT1 ill-used_JJ Jeremy_NP1 Irons_NN2 and_CC Joan_NP1 Allen_NP1 ,_, has_VHZ to_TO do_VDI with_IW looking_VVG at_II life_NN1 as_CS21 if_CS22 it_PPH1 were_VBDR an_AT1 Impressionist_JJ painting_NN1 ._. 
As_CSA Katharine_NP1 Keenan_NP1 (_( Ms._NNB Allen_NP1 )_) ,_, the_AT owner_NN1 of_IO an_AT1 art_NN1 gallery_NN1 ,_, puts_VVZ it_PPH1 ,_, none_PN too_RG academically_RR :_: "_" You_PPY ca_VM n't_XX get_VVI it_PPH1 when_CS it_PPH1 's_VBZ right_JJ in_II front_NN1 of_IO you_PPY ._. 
You_PPY have_VH0 to_TO step_VVI back_RP ._. "_" 
Since_CS this_DD1 observation_NN1 causes_VVZ her_APPGE devoted_JJ employee_NN1 ,_, Thomas_NP1 Buckle_NN1 (_( Mr._NNB Irons_NP1 )_) ,_, to_TO reverse_VVI on_II the_AT spot_NN1 his_APPGE entire_JJ philosophy_NN1 of_IO existence_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 decided_VVD to_TO take_VVI it_PPH1 to_II heart_NN1 and_CC put_VVD a_AT1 little_JJ distance_NN1 ,_, and_CC much_RR squinting_VVG ,_, between_II myself_PPX1 and_CC the_AT production_NN1 that_CST opened_VVD on_II Tuesday_NPD1 night_NNT1 at_II the_AT Gerald_NP1 Schoenfeld_NP1 Theater_NP1 ,_, directed_VVN by_II Jack_NP1 O'Brien_NP1 ._. 
But_CCB I_PPIS1 've_VH0 concluded_VVN that_CST even_CS21 if_CS22 I_PPIS1 were_VBDR to_TO back_VVI up_RP all_DB the_AT way_NN1 to_II the_AT Hudson_NP1 River_NNL1 ,_, with_IW half-open_JJ eyes_NN2 fixed_VVN on_II the_AT stage_NN1 where_CS Mr._NNB Irons_NP1 and_CC Ms._NNB Allen_NP1 labor_NN1 so_RG valiantly_RR ,_, "_" Impressionism_NN1 "_" still_RR would_VM n't_XX look_VVI credible_JJ ._. 
I_PPIS1 mean_VV0 this_DD1 both_RR in_II31 terms_II32 of_II33 its_APPGE plot_NN1 and_CC as_II a_AT1 proposition_NN1 that_CST would_VM entice_VVI some_DD very_RG talented_JJ people_NN and_CC a_AT1 vast_JJ army_NN1 of_IO producers_NN2 ._. 
"_" Impressionism_NN1 "_" has_VHZ already_RR generated_VVN much_RR drooling_VVG among_II the_AT carrion_NN1 feasters_NN2 in_II newspaper_NN1 columns_NN2 and_CC chat_VV0 rooms_NN2 ,_, after_CS it_PPH1 postponed_VVD its_APPGE opening_NN1 night_NNT1 (_( from_II March_NPM1 12_MC )_) to_TO make_VVI changes_NN2 that_CST included_VVD the_AT deletion_NN1 of_IO its_APPGE intermission_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB one_PN1 could_VM always_RR hope_VVI that_DD1 ,_, just_RR maybe_RR ,_, the_AT problems_NN2 lay_VV0 not_XX with_IW the_AT show_NN1 but_CCB with_IW innovation-resistant_JJ audiences_NN2 ._. 
After_II all_DB ,_, the_AT art_NN1 movement_NN1 from_II which_DDQ the_AT play_NN1 takes_VVZ its_APPGE title_NN1 was_VBDZ n't_XX exactly_RR a_AT1 smash_NN1 hit_VVN with_IW average_JJ gallerygoers_NN2 in_II its_APPGE early_JJ days_NNT2 ._. 
Alas_UH ,_, what_DDQ 's_VBZ wrong_JJ with_IW "_" Impressionism_NN1 "_" has_VHZ nothing_PN1 to_TO do_VDI with_IW the_AT shock_NN1 of_IO the_AT new_JJ ._. 
Its_APPGE use_NN1 of_IO individual_JJ artworks_NN2 as_II the_AT setting_NN1 for_IF memory_NN1 sequences_NN2 (_( through_II which_DDQ its_APPGE leading_JJ characters_NN2 recall_VV0 traumatic_JJ events_NN2 )_) is_VBZ said_VVN to_TO have_VHI confused_VVN preview_NN1 audience_NN1 members_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB what_DDQ Mr._NNB Jacobs_NP1 --_NN1 a_AT1 television_NN1 and_CC film_NN1 producer_NN1 whose_DDQGE previous_JJ plays_NN2 include_VV0 "_" Cheaters_NN2 ,_, "_" which_DDQ had_VHD a_AT1 brief_JJ run_NN1 on_II Broadway_NP1 in_II 1978_MC --_NN1 appears_VVZ to_TO aspire_VVI to_TO is_VBZ one_MC1 of_IO those_DD2 perennial_JJ sentimental_JJ stories_NN2 of_IO timid_JJ ,_, wounded_JJ souls_NN2 who_PNQS must_VM be_VBI shaken_VVN from_II their_APPGE protective_JJ shells_NN2 to_TO embrace_VVI life_NN1 ,_, love_NN1 and_CC the_AT future_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 means_VVZ that_CST Mr._NNB Irons_NP1 and_CC Ms._NNB Allen_NP1 must_VM spend_VVI much_DA1 of_IO the_AT play_NN1 looking_VVG hangdog_NN1 ,_, prickly_JJ and_CC sexually_RR neutered_VVD ._. 
Katharine_NP1 ,_, for_IF symbolic_JJ reasons_NN2 ,_, ca_VM n't_XX bring_VVI herself_PPX1 to_TO sell_VVI her_APPGE merchandise_NN1 ,_, while_CS Thomas_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 professional_JJ photographer_NN1 ,_, has_VHZ sworn_VVN off_II taking_VVG pictures_NN2 ._. 
(_( One_MC1 presumes_VVZ that_CST they_PPHS2 have_VH0 independent_JJ incomes_NN2 and_CC that_CST the_AT gallery_NN1 provides_VVZ one_MC1 heck_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 tax_NN1 write-off_NN1 ._. )_) 
Through_II gauzy_JJ trips_NN2 into_II those_DD2 memory-inspiring_JJ paintings_NN2 (_( which_DDQ also_RR include_VV0 a_AT1 Modigliani_NP1 nude_JJ and_CC a_AT1 contemporary_JJ work_NN1 by_II a_AT1 painter_NN1 for_IF whom_PNQO Katharine_NP1 posed_VVD )_) ,_, we_PPIS2 are_VBR allowed_VVN to_TO learn_VVI what_DDQ has_VHZ made_VVN such_DA attractive_JJ people_NN behave_VV0 like_II such_DA schlemiels_NN2 ._. 
Katharine_NP1 ,_, for_REX21 example_REX22 ,_, steps_NN2 into_II a_AT1 Mary_NP1 Cassatt_NP1 portrait_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 mother_NN1 and_CC child_NN1 to_TO recreate_VVI the_AT day_NNT1 her_APPGE father_NN1 (_( played_VVN by_II Mr._NNB Irons_NP1 )_) left_VVD her_APPGE mother_NN1 (_( played_VVN by_II Ms._NNB Allen_NP1 ,_, with_IW Hadley_NP1 Delany_NP1 as_II the_AT young_JJ Katharine_NP1 )_) ._. 
Between_II such_DA unsurprising_JJ excursions_NN2 --_NN1 there_EX 's_VBZ also_RR a_AT1 side_NN1 trip_NN1 into_II a_AT1 photo_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 Tanzanian_JJ boy_NN1 --_NN1 Katharine_NP1 and_CC Thomas_NP1 hold_VV0 fast_RR to_II their_APPGE sacred_JJ morning_NNT1 rituals_NN2 of_IO coffee_NN1 and_CC treats_VVZ from_II a_AT1 local_JJ bakery_NN1 ,_, and_CC sit_VV0 around_RP swapping_VVG banter_JJR ._. 
Mr._NNB Jacobs_NP1 might_VM have_VHI had_VHN in_II mind_NN1 the_AT relationship_NN1 between_II the_AT store_NN1 clerks_NN2 played_VVD so_RG winningly_RR by_II James_NP1 Stewart_NP1 and_CC Margaret_NP1 Sullavan_NP1 in_II the_AT 1940_MC film_NN1 "_" The_AT Shop_NN1 Around_II the_AT Corner_NN1 ._. "_" 
But_CCB Mr._NNB Irons_NP1 and_CC Ms._NNB Allen_NP1 ,_, multi-award-winning_JJ stage_NN1 and_CC film_NN1 stars_NN2 back_RP on_II Broadway_NP1 after_II an_AT1 absence_NN1 of_IO two_MC decades_NNT2 ,_, do_VD0 n't_XX generate_VVI anything_PN1 like_II the_AT same_DA romantic_JJ friction_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 is_VBZ partly_RR because_CS their_APPGE characters_NN2 ,_, as_CSA written_VVN ,_, are_VBR so_RG insubstantial_JJ ,_, amalgams_NN2 of_IO standard-issue_JJ psychological_JJ profiles_NN2 and_CC peppy_JJ one-liners_NN2 ._. 
Of_RR21 course_RR22 it_PPH1 does_VDZ n't_XX help_VVI that_CST Ms._NNB Allen_NP1 ,_, as_CSA the_AT Eleanor_NP1 Rigby-like_JJ Katharine_NP1 ,_, has_VHZ seldom_RR looked_VVN as_CSA smashing_JJ or_CC sensually_RR confident_JJ as_CSA she_PPHS1 does_VDZ here_RL (_( in_II expensive-looking_JJ ,_, form-fitting_JJ clothes_NN2 designed_VVN by_II Catherine_NP1 Zuber_NP1 )_) ._. 
Mr._NNB Irons_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS was_VBDZ terrific_JJ as_II the_AT British_JJ prime_JJ minister_NN1 Harold_NP1 Macmillan_NP1 in_II "_" Never_RR So_RG Good_JJ "_" in_II London_NP1 last_MD year_NNT1 ,_, is_VBZ perhaps_RR too_RG effective_JJ in_II suppressing_VVG his_APPGE considerable_JJ sex_NN1 appeal_NN1 ,_, though_CS his_APPGE delivery_NN1 of_IO the_AT only_JJ real_JJ joke_NN1 in_II Thomas_NP1 's_GE repertory_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT show_NN1 's_GE high_JJ point_NN1 ._. 
Both_DB2 stars_NN2 are_VBR asked_VVN to_TO generate_VVI charm_NN1 out_II21 of_II22 thin_JJ air_NN1 ,_, and_CC you_PPY feel_VV0 the_AT strain_NN1 ._. 
Mr._NNB O'Brien_NP1 ,_, one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT reliable_JJ and_CC versatile_JJ of_IO Broadway_NN1 directors_NN2 ,_, keeps_VVZ things_NN2 moving_VVG fluidly_RR if_CS not_XX briskly_RR ._. 
(_( You_PPY ca_VM n't_XX accuse_VVI the_AT show_NN1 of_IO being_VBG hard_JJ to_TO follow_VVI now_RT ._. )_) 
The_AT impressive_JJ supporting_JJ cast_JJ members_NN2 ,_, who_PNQS play_VV0 a_AT1 variety_NN1 of_IO roles_NN2 ,_, include_VV0 Marsha_NP1 Mason_NP1 and_CC Michael_NP1 T._NP1 Weiss_NP1 ._. 
The_AT ever_RR vital_JJ Andre_NP1 De_NP1 Shields_VVZ ,_, the_AT only_JJ one_PN1 onstage_JJ who_PNQS seems_VVZ to_TO be_VBI enjoying_VVG himself_PPX1 ,_, appears_VVZ as_II a_AT1 twinkly_JJ ,_, wise_JJ old_JJ Tanzanian_JJ fisherman_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 twinkly_JJ ,_, wise_JJ old_JJ baker_NN1 ._. 
Scott_NP1 Pask_NP1 (_( sets_VVZ )_) ,_, Natasha_NP1 Katz_NP1 (_( lighting_NN1 )_) and_CC Elaine_NP1 J._NP1 McCarthy_NP1 (_( projections_NN2 )_) deliver_VV0 appropriately_RR picturesque_JJ visuals_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT outsize_JJ projections_NN2 of_IO works_NN by_II Renoir_NP1 and_CC Cassatt_NP1 ,_, among_II others_NN2 ,_, do_VD0 n't_XX do_VDI the_AT Impressionist_JJ movement_NN1 any_DD favors_NN2 ,_, draining_VVG the_AT paintings_NN2 of_IO their_APPGE delicacy_NN1 ,_, as_CSA giant_JJ reproductions_NN2 are_VBR wont_JJ to_TO do_VDI ._. 
The_AT overall_JJ effect_NN1 is_VBZ pretty_JJ but_CCB sappy_JJ ._. 
Or_CC as_CSA Katharine_NP1 says_VVZ sarcastically_RR to_II Thomas_NP1 ,_, "_" Do_VD0 you_PPY think_VVI you_PPY could_VM be_VBI more_RGR bland_JJ ?_? "_" 
There_EX is_VBZ a_AT1 palpable_JJ sense_NN1 of_IO Frisell_NP1 's_GE delight_NN1 at_II being_VBG in_II the_AT company_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 man_NN1 who_PNQS is_VBZ not_XX only_RR his_APPGE teacher_NN1 and_CC mentor_NN1 but_CCB also_RR a_AT1 heroic_JJ stylist_NN1 ,_, capable_JJ of_IO announcing_VVG his_APPGE presence_NN1 with_IW a_AT1 single_JJ note_NN1 ._. 
Indeed_RR ,_, one_MC1 such_DA note_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 highlight_NN1 of_IO the_AT album_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 occurs_VVZ four_MC and_CC a_AT1 half_DB minutes_NNT2 into_II a_AT1 lengthy_JJ free_JJ improvisation_NN1 called_VVN "_" Migration_NN1 ._. "_" 
Up_II21 to_II22 that_DD1 point_NN1 ,_, Frisell_NP1 has_VHZ been_VBN offering_VVG loops_NN2 and_CC chords_NN2 and_CC riffs_NN2 ,_, trying_VVG to_TO create_VVI a_AT1 sonic_JJ background_NN1 that_CST will_VM engage_VVI his_APPGE partner_NN1 's_GE interest_NN1 ,_, as_CSA Hall_NN1 sits_VVZ silently_RR by_II ._. 
Suddenly_RR ,_, a_AT1 lone_JJ commanding_JJ note_NN1 signals_NN2 Hall_NN1 's_GE entrance_NN1 ,_, and_CC you_PPY can_VM practically_RR see_VVI Frisell_NP1 smiling_VVG with_IW relief_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 few_DA2 minutes_NNT2 later_RRR ,_, it_PPH1 's_VBZ hard_JJ to_TO tell_VVI who_PNQS 's_VBZ playing_VVG what_DDQ ._. 
