Published in the Weekly Volcano, March 11, 2016
from left: Jesse Morrow, Tim Shute, Meghan Goodman, Scott Douglas, and Chelsea Williams. Photo by Austin Lang. |
And
now for something completely and delightfully different — Circle Mirror Transformation at Olympia Little Theatre, written by Pulitzer
Prize–winning playwright Annie Baker and winner of the 2010 Obie Award for Best
New American Play .
It
might seem silly and disjointed at first, but stick with it and you’ll be
rewarded. Some people didn’t stick with it opening night. I noticed that more
than a couple of couples left at intermission. Perhaps it was too weird for
them. Perhaps it seemed meaningless. Too bad for those who walked out. They
missed out on a terrific show ably pulled together by first-time director
Hannah Eklund and an outstanding ensemble cast.
Cast photo by Austin C. Lang |
Marty
(Meghan Goodman) runs an acting class for adults. It’s a small class, four
students only, one of whom is Marty’s husband, James (Tim Shute). It seems he
doesn’t really want to be there, but is taking part in the class in order to
support his wife. The other class members are Theresa (Chelsea Williams), a
professional actor who doesn’t really need the class; Schultz (Scott Douglas),
a recently divorced man who is uncomfortable being in the class; and Lauren
(Jesse Morrow), a student with hopes of becoming an actor.
The
play begins with a series of seemingly unconnected scenes that parody the kinds
of often bizarre exercises actors are known for engaging in — attempting to
communicate without words, making animal noises, lying on the floor and
shouting out numbers in an attempt to count to 10 without any two or more
saying the same number and nobody knowing when someone else is going to call
out a number (try it, you’ll see how hard it is), becoming various inanimate
objects, and introducing each other and telling their personal stories each in
the guise of one of the other people in the class.
Time
changes, from week one to week two and so forth, are cleverly introduced by
projected videos of the actors, one at a time, in extreme close-up with lots of
changes of expression and with background music. I do not know if the actors
attempted to go through their medley of facial expressions with the music playing
or if the music was added later, but they appeared to be delightfully
synchronized—most enjoyably Shute frowning and laughing to the tune of The
Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction.”
The
different scenes and exercises seem random and are often hilarious, but become
increasingly revealing of intimate details, fears and desires. In the end, each
of the class members has changed, and the audience knows them better. But not
everything is revealed. As the actors tell their personal stories, the audience
is challenged to figure out what stories pertain to which of the actors. Clues
abound, but not necessarily the answers.
Kudos
to cast and crew for a job well done.
Circle Mirror
Transformation runs
approximately two-and-one-half hours including intermission. It is an
intelligent play for sophisticated adults.
The set and lighting are deceptively simple and effective. (No one is credited in the program for set design, but Tom Sanders is listed as set construction, and Sam Arsenault is credited for props—primarily a big ball, a hula hoop and a cleverly designed combination bench and storage cabinet.) The projected videos are captivating (Eklund did them and the sound design; and as director she has to be credited for the complex and excellent blocking). And since I've listed half the crew I should list the rest of the unsung heroes behind this production, all of whom deserve praise: Stage Manager Austin C. Lang; Lighting design Lang and Vanessa Postil; light and sound booth George Dougherty, who is seldom acknowledged for the critical job of running lights and sound for Theater Artists Olympia, Olympia Little Theatre, and Olympia Family Theatre; and Producer Allison Gerst, longtime costume designer for OLT.
Circle Mirror Transformation, Thursday-Saturday
and 1:55 p.m. Sunday, through Feb. 21, Olympia Little Theatre, 1925 Miller
Ave., NE, Olympia, tickets $11-$15, available at Yenney Music, 2703 Capital
Mall Dr., Olympia, 360.786.9484, http://olympialittletheater.org/
1 comment:
Thanks, Tim. Not said often enough. I appreciate your talent and commitment, Colonel.
Captain M.
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