Malcolm Raphaelson was on his way to becoming a famous painter. But just as he was gaining notoriety in the late 1940s the abstract expressionist movement swept through the art world leaving Malcolm, and his realistic style behind. So, Malcolm moved to Mexico to live and work in obscurity. Fast-forward to the early ’90s. His work is rediscovered by an art dealer who sees a big comeback for Malcolm and a big payday for himself. Throw-in an aspiring artist as an assistant and a beautiful young research scientist as a muse and you’ve got Ten Unknowns. Here to tell us if the audience is left starving, or sated are Eight Forty-Eight’s Dueling Critics Kelly Kleiman and Jonathan Abarbanel.

On Stage:
Ten Unknowns
Through May 29
Athenaeum Theatre

Kelly’s Pick:
Welcome to Arroyo’s
Through May 16
American Theater Co.