The current offering at Stray Dog Theatre is an engaging production ofTerrence McNally’s 1987 play, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.

The title characters the work in the same diner in New York City. Frankie is a waitress; Johnny is the new short-order cook. They have just had their first date, and they have come back to Frankie’s apartment, a walk-up in the West Fifties.

In the opening moments, Frankie and Johnny are finishing up a loud, enthusiastic sexual encounter. They are in different places after the sex. Johnny thinks he has found love and is desperate to pursue a relationship. When Johnny presses too hard, Frankie asks him to leave so she can get on with her routine. Johnny will not be discouraged.

Johnny can be faulted for not listening to Frankie, but he is right about one thing. There is an underlying reason for her resistance, and she needs to deal with it.

McNally has created two fully developed characters who reveal their truths in continually absorbing dialogue. Details that matter lead to an endearing conclusion in Act One, but more work is needed in Act Two for the characters to move forward together.

Mara Bollini as Frankie and Stephen Peirick as Johnny take their characters on believable, affecting journeys in finely crafted performances. Bollini probes deeply into Frankie’s emotions as she deals with both her present and her past. Peirick captures the sweetness of Johnny’s love and the steeliness of his resolve.

In addition to directing, Gary F. Bell designed both the set and the costumes and contributed to the properties design along with Justin Been and Aasrith Veerapaneni. Their work creates an appropriate environment for the working-class characters. Bell’s direction makes good use of the space to keep the action from becoming static. Justin Been’s sound design includes classical music heard over the radio. Both acts end with the same piece, Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” whose title means moonlight.

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune continues through June 21 at the Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee Avenue.

—Gerry Kowarsky

Photo by Sarah Gene Dowling
From the left, Stephen Peirick as Johnny and Mara Bollini as Frankie in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.