| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Jul | Sep » | |||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 | ||||
- Uncategorized (111)
- 8. October 2011: LIVES ON THE ROCKS
- 7. October 2011: YOU CAN PICK YOUR FRIENDS...
- 28. August 2011: GOING OUT WITH A BANG
- 7. August 2011: THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUSTING THE TEXT
- 4. August 2011: EVERYTHING'S "ALRIGHT"
- 30. July 2011: SHE’S A DIRTY, DIRTY GIRL
- 24. July 2011: HISTORY LESSONS WITH LAUGHS
- 23. July 2011: RING! RING! DON’T ANSWER THAT PHONE!
- 21. July 2011: ENTERTAINING FAMILY FARE FROM CLO
- 15. July 2011: ONE HORN OR TWO?
Blogroll
More from Out
Twitter
- October 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
THE SPOILS OF WAR: STILL LIFE
THE SPOILS OF WAR: STILL LIFE
F. J. Hartland
It’s been said that to do theatre all you need are some bare boards and a passion. The rest—lights, costumes, technical effects—is just gravy.
No where is this old chestnut more evident that in the Cup-A-Joe Production of Emily Mann’s Still Life, currently running at the Future Tenant Gallery.
With three platforms, three lighting instruments—and a lot of passion, director Todd Betker and his highly talented cast bring the play to life.
Based on real interviews, Still Life shows the impact of the Viet Nam War on three individuals—and only one of them is a soldier.
Everett Lowe plays Mark, the shell-shocked soldier. He’s been through hell and back; unfortunately, when he finally returns home, there are no parades. In fact, no one even wants to talk about the war. He is full of rage and pain, which sadly he takes out on his long suffering wife. Lowe brilliantly captures a man who is so conflicted on so many levels. We truly feel his anguish.
Diana Ifft portrays Cheryl, the victim of domestic violence, who is terrified of leaving her husband. She is also pregnant with their second child (which doesn’t stop her from swilling cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon). With her performance, Ifft perfectly manages to walk a fine line. Should we feel sympathy for her…or is she unhinged herself? Using the tiniest physical actions, Ifft creates her character through nuances: the way she touches her ear, for instance, or the way she continuously twirls the yarn from her sweater.
In the role of Nadine, a disenchanted woman who forges a bond with Mark, Joanna Lowe becomes the voice of what was happening in our country during and after the war. Lowe embodies the disenchantment people (and women, in particular) felt during he late 60’s and early 70’s.
The characters speak directly to the audience and rarely interact. The effect is almost like a musical composition. While Betker gets some outstanding performances from his cast, he allows them to become over-indulgent, particularly during the second act. And speaking of second acts, the format for Still Life grows too tedious to support a two hour show. Mann should have cut her script to run in ninety minutes with no intermission. Also, stopping the action truly breaks the flow and intensity of the piece.
But do see Still Life for the amazing performances. Yes, the show is underlit. Yes, there is no real set. But this director and these three actors truly prove that all you need to create great theatre: bare boards and a passion.
Still Life continues through August 14.