John Garcia's THE COLUMN Friday April 24, 2009
THE COLUMN STAFF:
CHIEF SENIOR THEATER CRITIC:
John Garcia
ASSOCIATE THEATER CRITICS:
Clyde Berry
Richard Goulde
Gina Robertson
Dennis Sloan
Mark Brian Sonna
Ed Townley
THEATER REVIEWS:
WALKING ACROSS EGYPT adapted by Reid Leonard based on the book by Clyde Edgerton
Artisan Center Theater
REVIEWED SATURDAY APRIL 18, 2009
Reviewed by Clyde Berry
Associate Theater Critic for John Garcia's THE COLUMN
My first visit to the Artisan Center Theater was to see WALKING ACROSS EGYPT, based off of the novel by Clyde Edgerton, and adapted by Reid Leonard. I'd neither read the novel, adaptation, nor seen a performance, so I was looking forward to a new story. In researching this piece, I learned quite a lot about ACT and their purpose.
This group is not playing around. They have a very ambitious season of programs, benefits, summer camps, and more. Their program is in full color, with links to their website for a more extensive listing. Every audition and program is listed. What this tells me is these folks are organized, supported, and serious about what they do-- and that is to offer family theater. Clearly they are anchored into their community; they have lots of ads, pages of donors, volunteers, board members, and a large staff listed.
Admittedly, family theater is not my first choice when going out for the evening. I tend to like things that are a bit less safe, and hopefully more thought provoking, usually over some sort of issue the audience will argue about during intermission. While I fully understand and recognize the need for it, I'd rather have the Rocky Road than Vanilla any day. In the description of Egypt the Artisan website reads "WALKING ACROSS EGYPT is a story of a sweet elderly lady whose faith and trust reform a juvenile delinquent. The God-fearing woman practically looks forward to her funeral, until Wesley comes along. He brings youth and joy to her life, and she brings intelligence, truth, and God into his. Both sides benefit from their experiences together", so right off the bat, you know how it ends. Still this is theater, and it is the getting there that is fun. What do we learn along the way?
This already sounds like a good choice of show for Artisan, and well suited to their mission and audience. But between their description and just knowing how stories go…are you going to be surprised at the ending?
If you've ever seen the Andy Griffith show, you know there are never any "bad guys" just folks that have hard luck and do the wrong thing out of a lack realizing help is out there. You know these characters, their small town charm will remind you of your small town, family, or classmates. They are archetypal characters who do what we know they will do until someone steps in and sorts out whatever the miscommunication is for the week. There's the gossip, snob, gun crazy guy, reverend, rebellious teen, kindly handyman, etc. all folks that make up a community. So, would Aunt Bea really not try to help the teen that needs it, even when others tell her not to? Exactly. However, even with no surprises in the script, the direction, acting, and tech for Egypt is quite good, and if you're looking for a place to bring your family, this is your pick.
Leslie Bruns set design is very well done. Artisan stages in the round, and while traditionally in "in the round stagings" there is always a spot here and there where someone has a temporary bad view, her design, especially with the use of platforms for the non-center areas is well thought out and executed. There's a particularly nice unit that quietly shifts from a house to a trailer, still with functional doors, and is also a spinning wall unit that is the most quiet thing I've (n)ever heard. Lit by Jason Levya, there are no dark areas, or awkward spots, but even more impressive is there are no lights in any poor audience members' eyes. Nancy Simmons costumes are nicely chosen, they are true to the "small town" characters without making fun of them. They look realistic and show everyone off nicely.
Directed by Lisa Dalton, Egypt moves along pleasantly and has lots of nice moments. Her blocking is natural and seamless, no easy task when there are half doors, and audience on all sides. The cast seems comfortable and well prepared. (Or, at least the cast I saw, Artisan has double cast most of the roles, so depending on when you go, there may be a completely different group of actors.) Dalton has done well creating the families and friendships between the characters, and her pace of storytelling is good.
If anything, the drama could be developed a bit more, but this is mostly due to the lack of it in the script, instead of any poor directorial choices. There are some moments where a serious tone could be relished a bit more, and show another side of these characters making them less one note. Her comedic sense is sharp, and the bickering siblings, nosy neighbors, and hapless little old ladies, all get the laughs they should. A theatrical piece, characters often deliver narrative bits to the audience, and Dalton sets these up clearly as well.
Dorothy Sanders plays Mattie, the senior with a heart of gold (who can really cook). Sanders rarely leaves the stage, changing costume elements visibly between scenes. Sanders does well, is high energy and moves smoothly through her scenes. Sanders ad libs a bit in awkward moments between scene shifts at times, and sometimes stammers a bit to get the exact words to come out right, but this all plays off naturally and becomes a part of Mattie. The ringleader of the story, Sanders does well marshalling the show along.
Zach Wooster plays the teen Wesley with all the "Aww shucksiness" needed. He never goes overboard and is entertaining to watch. Wooster has a good sense of timing and is having fun on stage.
Neighbors to Mattie, Alora and Finner, are smartly played by Teri McHargue and Kit Hussey. Mattie's adult children are brought to life by Gary Payne and Jenny Tucker. Payne has the best wry delivery of punch lines in the show, and Tucker provides a nice contrast as the more citified Elaine. Dee Yeats steals every scene as Mattie's feisty and opinionated sister Pearl. Daniel Orges' Lamar is another of the more realistic figures in the play, he is solid in his choices and quite good.
If you are looking for show to take your kids to, you (and they) will like Walking Across Egypt. It's funny, well done, and full of the messages you want to get across to your kids.
Reviewed by Clyde Berry
Associate Theater Critic for John Garcia's THE COLUMN
