“People don't want to see original work.”
As a playwright, actor and director in the Lehigh Valley I resent the idea that people “don't” want to see original work. An astute theatrical friend once said “ALL theater is original work … just because it has never been seen doesn't make it any less original than The Sound of Music.”
Perhaps he's correct … and perhaps it's a shame people will see “The Sound of Music” but won't go see a show they have never seen or heard of before. I'm not saying “The Sound of Music” is a bad show, only that one should bear in mind that before 2003 nobody had ever heard of “Wicked” or “Avenue Q” … and prior to 1959 nobody had heard of “The Sound of Music” either.
You can argue that a great show will endure and there is no argument that there have been some great pieces of work brought to life which have endured thanks to their brilliance, wit, and charm. That isn't to say that “new work” doesn't posses the same capability and it is a shame that more people don't line up to see something they have never seen before … based on nothing more than the fact they have never seen it before.
Take, as an example, the most recent production at Global ImpACTORS in Macungie titled “Pieces of Evelyn” by Pennsylvania playwright Betsy Jackson. The play was originally produced as part of the Shawnee Playhouse's 2009 season and had it's second production done at the Macungie Institute by GIG over the last few weekends.
The play is a series of small “skits” revolving around Evelyn – a sort of “everywoman” who is adapting to life at forty with one daughter about to begin school and another attending college. The stories range from the humorous to the annoying to the dramatic and follow Evelyn as she journeys through such “adventures” as selecting a school for her daughter, attending a bizarre writing class, confiding about her sex life with her best friend to then remembering a chilling encounter with an abusive ex-boyfriend and the death of a family member.
The emotions in this play weave from humor to sadness as quickly as the scene changes. The structure of the play is a bit odd as the most serious moments (which should define some of the character's motivations in the first act) don't occur until the second act. It felt a bit as if were were watching two different plays at times and with a bit more juggling of the scenes the story might have been more cohesive and given the tragedy and comedy a bit more impact.
Is that to say it was a bad play' No. It was actually a very good production with fine acting. If any criticism were welcome I would say the play does need some editing in some parts and more substance in others. When asked about edits made to the play prior to it's premiere at Shawnee Playhouse Ms. Jackson was quoted in a Pocono Record article dated January, 2009 as saying “I guess in the past I was more attached, but now I can step back. Where's the clutter' Let me clean this up. I'm seeking clarity.”
Which is, more or less, what her main character “Evelyn” is seeking. To clean up the clutter.
Aren't we all'
The point, I suppose, is that this was a good production of an “original work” and now it is over – which is sad. Huge productions of movies turned into musicals will open on Broadway and run for months but little, heartfelt shows such as “Pieces of Evelyn” will fade back to the writer's flash drive until another theater is willing to take the risk of producing it. The hard work and efforts of the cast and crew are now finished but hopefully the audiences who came out to see it enjoyed it and will tell their friends about that “original” piece they saw in Macungie.
The cast was led by Kelly Herbert James as Evelyn who does a fine job in the exhausting lead role. Although her dramatic moments were sometimes better than her humorous ones she – overall – breathed life into a character who could have come across as nothing more than a whiney, bored housewife. Fortunately, she does not. Her “Evelyn” is sympathetic, troubled, confused and, above all else, loving – which makes her such an enjoyable character to spend two hours with.
The ensemble cast features Trish Cipoletti, John Corl, Kristi Curtis, Raven Dailey, Judith Evans, Keith Moser, Tesia Nicoli, Jeanie Olah, and Elaine Zelker. Katelyn Hope James provides the “voice” of Evelyn's younger daughter.
The ensemble does a great job of portraying the many characters who come into Evelyn's life – friends, guides, teachers, annoyances and even trouble. Each member of the cast has moments of humor and drama which are handled with equal amounts of style. Ryan MacNamara as Evelyn's husband drifts believably from distant to loving and his scene with Ms. James where he simply wants to go back to sleep is beautiful. On the contrary, Remy Kayal as an abusive ex-boyfriend is chilling … and from the moment he slams the door and enters the theater the moods shifts to tense, unnerving apprehension.
The rest of the cast all have their moments where they also shine as everything from an emotionally fragile group leader, a hippie in search of angels, an angry mother at poolside, annoying people in a theater, short-tempered gun loving woman … the diversity of the characters who come and go are entertaining and each actor gives their characters unique qualities.
Director Rachel Williams keeps the set simple but the characters large which works well in a piece such as this. She handles both the dramatic and comic moments well and keeps the pace moving nicely so that even the monologues never feel excessive.
“Pieces of Evelyn” has completed their performances in Macungie but hopefully there will be more “original” works produced in the area. The point I might be trying to make with this review is that “The Sound of Music” will be done by high schools and community theaters for decades to come. When will “Pieces of Evelyn” come to a theater near you again' And would you go see it now that you know what it's about'
Or perhaps the point is to beg you to take a risk on something you've never seen before on the chance that – if in ten years it makes it to Broadway and tickets are two hundred dollars for an “obstructed view” you can smile and say “I saw this when it was first produced!”
The next time a theater such as Global ImpACTORS produces a show you've never heard of take a chance and go support local and “original” works … you might just stumble into your next favorite show.
For more information about Global ImpACTORS visit www.GIGtheater.com