A Tale of Two Plays

Two Saturdays, two different experiences at area theatres...

Last week, I took in the matinee performance of Conor McPherson's The Seafarer at Studio Theatre. This is the third McPherson play I've seen, so I knew what to expect -- down on their luck Irish characters, elements of the supernatural, looking for the meaning of things in the small ups and downs of daily working class life. Those elements are all there in this new play, as a group of Dubliners drink, nag each other, gossip, and play cards on Christmas Eve. The main characters were all likable, and local faves Floyd King and Ed Gero both exhibited their usual charisma and presence as rascally good-for-nothings who get a big kick out of each other.

McPherson's supernatural element appears in the form of an unexpected guest at the Christmas Eve card game -- Philip Goodwin plays a character we soon learn to be the devil in disguise. Yes, the actual devil, who long ago played a card game and won against one of the characters and is now back to exact his price. There's potential in this storyline, and McPherson's writing on this seems just as strong as usual, but I'm sorry to say that I just *hated* Philip Goodwin's performance. He and the director obviously made choices about how to portray the devil, in this case as inhabiting a strange, limiting, and uncomfortable body. His mannerisms were stiff and a little jumpy, and the complete opposite of what I would want to see in a devil. Lucifer should be sly and seductive, right? He's a tempter, someone who can cast a spell and is irresistible. Unfortunately, in this play, I just couldn't wait until Goodwin was off the stage cuz he was so distracting and frustrating. I've seen him in other shows and never had this reaction before, so I chalk it up just the choices on how to play this role. It's too bad, because it really took away from my enjoyment of the play as a whole.

Fast forward a week, and I was back at the theatre again tonight checking out a preview performance of The Heavens Are Hung in Black, the world premiere that's reopening the renovated Ford's Theatre. The play celebrates Abraham Lincoln and is part of Ford's and the overall city's Lincoln Bicentennial commemoration (his 200th birthday - and my 34th! - is this Thursday, February 12). The action takes place throughout the spring and summer of 1862, as the President and Mrs. Lincoln are mourning the loss of their beloved son Willie and, as President, Lincoln and his Cabinet members are growing increasingly frustrated with the Union's poor fortunes in the War (though the play and I both place a great deal of blame at McClellan's feet).

The play covers a lot -- and I think this is part of what it still needs to work out. It has 3 acts, something I don't think I've ever seen other than in Shakespeare, and the playwright really tries to cram a whole lot of story, debate, and what I'll call "Lincoln's greatest hits" into those 3 acts. If you've ever heard any of Lincoln's famous one-liners, you'll recognize most of them cuz the play works them all in even when it seems a little forced. The "throughline" of the story, I believe, is supposed to be Lincoln's coming to grips with the idea and inevitability of Emancipation. If the play focused more on that, it would be a stronger work. But instead, it comes off a bit as a cross between a history lesson on Emancipation, a "this is your life, Abraham Lincoln" montage, and a mystical "Christmas Carol"-style series of spectral visitors offering Lincoln life lessons to point him in the right direction. I don't think any of these storylines were bad, per se, but I think the play could use some trimming. It could also tone down some of the metaphors that hit us over the head -- that last scene, especially, didn't seem necessary. I've seen world premieres before, and been around as shows have been workshopped, and I've always been impressed to see how much tighter a show is at the end of premiere run than it is in the previews. So, with some time, I think this play will get there.

The production we saw tonight was pretty strong -- the cast was all good, and David Selby is really good playing the 16th President himself. He has the challenge of humanizing the man who has become an icon, and he does a great job of portraying both Lincoln's famous melancholy AND his famous humor. The lighting design is also very interesting and helps add to the haunting effect, and I loved the way they used slight alterations of the set with different lighting to convey the outdoors, the night sky, even a rainstorm.

So -- two shows, both with promise but in need of a little work. I know not every visit to the theatre can be the best experience ever, but I do appreciate the opportunities to learn more about what makes a good show and what choices could help improve others. If I learned anything in my years of working at theater companies, it was about how important all the pieces are -- a good script, strong and clear direction, talented actors, innovative designers, and resourceful craftsmen. When it all works, it's really a joy to watch.