The Black Box, which introduced live theater to downtown Asbury Park a few seasons ago but has recently been dispossessed by redevelopment, offered theater on the lawn in Kennedy Park over the weekend.

There were two plays, "The Loveliest Afternoon of the Year," a trifle by John Guare, and the more substantial "The Zoo Story," by Edward Albee.

Arthur Soria was the boy and Caroline Kiebach the girl in the Guare piece that illustrated, if anything, that the casual pickup can be dangerous.

"The Zoo Story" had a bit more going for it as Jerry (Bob Senkewicz) goes to great lengths to describe to a complete stranger (Jim Folly) his encounter with a dog.

Senkewicz, who also has a "zoo story" --- which he never gets to relate --- is mesmerizing as he attempts to spark some interest in his captive audience, seated on a park bench.

Like the Guare tale, "The Zoo Story" also ends in tragedy, a totally unexpected ending for a casual encounter on a sunny Sunday afternoon in the park. Which may be the author's point.

Director Stephen Waldrup, who has an extensive background in professional theater in New York City, predicts a formidable resurgence for the Black Box in the city.

THE TWO RIVER TIMES

The Week of July 29 - August 4, 2004

Edward Albee's The Zoo Story and John Guare's The Loveliest Afternoon of the Year both take place in Central Park. The Black Box Theater Company is performing both theatre of the absurd one-acts in Kennedy Memorial Park, Asbury Park, on Friday and Saturday at 7 pm. Pictured are Bob Senkewicz (left) and Jim Folly in Zoo Story. Loveliest Afternoon features Caroline Kiebach and Arthur Soria. Admission is free, and you are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. "the setting is perfect, the acting is keen and the direction (Stephen Waldrup) is sharp. The whole idea is super."