The Lies We Weave

After breaking into the home of the Hailsham-Browns, a shady character is murdered.  For reasons of her own, the lady of the house tries to cover up the crime, but a relentless police inspector is bound and determined to bring the truth to light.  This is Spider’s Web and it is currently playing at Bellevue Little Theatre.

As an actor I understand the importance and the struggle of avoiding typecasting.  Actors often yearn for the opportunity to play something different from what brought them to the table for a change of pace, the challenge, etc.  In a sense, this play is Agatha Christie’s attempt to avoid being typed solely as a mystery writer.

Seeking to play a different role from the sinister characters for which she had become known, Margaret Lockwood requested Christie write a little comedy thriller for her.  Christie laid a little too much into the comedy side of things.  Had she brought her legendary gift for plotting into the mix, I think the show would have been better served.  What we have is a comedy with just the barest trappings of a mystery.

This particular production is boosted by two things.

1. Christie’s gift for unique characters remains intact.
2. A cast and director who found every bit of gold in the story and elevated it based on talent and effort.

Indeed, Christopher Scott shows an extraordinary level of theatre acumen in his direction of this piece.  He leans heavily into the character work and makes certain that all of his performers have well-defined characters who are grounded in reality, even with their quirks.  Scott crafts some fine moments of tension and shock with the murder scene being of a particularly fine vintage.  Some of my favorite moments were the slamming of drawers and the ominous sliding open of a secret passage just so I could hear the audible reactions of the audience member sitting in front of me.  Scott keeps the pace up as well as could be done as this show is just crammed with dialogue, especially in the lengthy first act and has his actors lean into the comedy which helped add vitality to long stretches of dry dialogue.

There isn’t a weak tire in the cast and you’ll see some fine character performances from Dennis Stessman as a very proper butler who knows how to make an exit.  At the age of 14, Lilli Westman has a sense of comfort on stage equitable to veteran adults which makes her Pippa a joy to watch.  Jon Roberson serves as a beacon of normalcy as the steady Henry Hailsham-Brown.  Ben Pearson brings an oily criminality to Oliver Costello.  Brandon Dorsey is stalwart as Constable Jones.  Jackson Newman and Randy Wallace have some extremely excellent chemistry as a comedy duo with their characters of Hugo and Rowland.  Matt Karasek is superbly charming as Jeremy and can speak volumes with an expression or a look.

As Christie deviated from her normal style of writing, this show doesn’t contain a proper detective character though the Inspector comes the closest.  In the hands of a less capable performer, this character could be very one dimensional, but Katie Otten adds multiple dimensions through sheer force of acting ability.  With her ramrod posture and steely-eyed gaze, Otten makes it clear her Inspector is not one to be trifled with.  She brings an intelligence to her character as she knowingly keeps the suspects separated so they can’t collude on stories and is able to spot the clues and make rapid fire deductions. She can also play good cop/bad cop on her lonesome as she can be ingratiating and sympathetic in one moment and then be as volatile as lightning in the next.

One always has the feeling that Sarah Dighans’ Miss Peake isn’t wrapped all that tightly.  She truly lives in her own little reality as she often walks into the Hailsham-Browns’ home as if she owns it and punctuates her speech with a piercing laugh that has the others potentially looking for a straitjacket in case she starts frothing at the mouth.  Miss Peake is assuredly one of the most original characters I’ve seen brought to life and Dighans’ rendition of this character is a highlight of the night.

Clarissa Hailsham-Brown has a fantasy life worthy of Snoopy.  Sara Scheidies’ interpretation of this character had me sensing that she was truly bored of the life of a housewife as she enjoyed playing little jokes on her friends and loved indulging in the game of “Supposing” where she invents little fantasies to enjoy.  Clearly she enjoys the game a little too much for, as she often says, people don’t believe her even when she tells the truth.  Scheidies brings a real innocence to the character as her addiction to “Supposing” gives her an appalling lack of common sense as she tries to cover up the murder instead of seeking the aid of the police.  Or maybe she has more crucial reasons for avoiding the police. . .

Chris Ebke has designed a lovely little country house with soft tan walls, elegant period furniture, a crystal chandelier, and a very neat secret passage that triggered memories of the old Batman TV series.  Joey Lorincz has some very effective lighting tricks as he has the chandelier exude a soft blue when the lights go down so you can see just enough of what’s going on to know what’s happening, but without revealing any salient plot points.  Lora Kaup has designed proper period correct clothes from the 1940s-50s with handsome suits, golf wear, and dresses.

While I prefer more mystery in my mysteries, the efforts of this cast and director turn a middling story into an enjoyable night of character work with a few shocks and surprises and elevate it into something far better.

Spider’s Web plays at Bellevue Little Theatre through Jan 29. Showtimes are Fri-Sat at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm.  Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at the Box Office, at blt.simpletix.com, or calling 402-413-8945.  Bellevue Little Theatre is located at 203 W Mission Ave in Bellevue, NE.

Gaslit

A cruel sociopath slowly drives his wife insane and her only hope for escape lies in an eccentric detective obsessed with solving an open case from early in his career.  This is Angel Street and it is currently playing at Brownville Village Theatre.

I had heard of this story under its more famous name of Gaslight, but this was my first time seeing it in any medium and I had really been missing out on something special.  Patrick Hamilton wrote a tight, taut thriller that had me hooked from start to finish.  Hamilton has a grand gift for words and knows how to use them to build mood, tension, intrigue, and emotion.  This play is completely dialogue driven, but Hamilton’s skill in plotting had me feeling as if I had run a marathon by the time it was all said and done.

Now a play needs more than good words to sell it.  It also needs fantastic acting and direction to unlock the full potential of those words and this play has all of that and so much more.

Mitch Bean’s direction is spot on.  He understands the many twists and turns of the play’s mazelike plot and knows how to build and resolve the play’s many intense scenes.  Some of his finest moments were the final confrontations between Mr. Manningham and Detective Rough and Mr. and Mrs. Manningham.  The Manningham/Rough scene is particularly gripping and is the verbal equivalent of a savage fistfight with the way the two men continue circling each other and fling words at each other like knives.  Bean has also coached his entire cast to sterling performances with nary a weak link among them.

Bella Walker and Lucy Haarmann are very strong in the smaller roles of household servants.  As Elizabeth, Haarmann is very loyal to her mistress and is actually the character that first leads Mrs. Manningham to her first steps on her road to freedom.  Walker is very smug and saucy as Nancy, a servant who acts like and has ambitions to be the mistress of the house.

I have to admit that when I first saw Benjamin Salazar, I thought he was a little young for the role of Mr. Manningham, but, the second he opened his mouth, I completely bought into the illusion.  Salazar has a rich and powerful voice that belies his youth and is suited for the evil Manningham.  And, believe me, evil is defined by this man.  Though he has the manners of a gentleman, Manningham is a cruel, vicious monster.  Salazar knows how to use Manningham’s words like a weapon as he constantly pummels his wife emotionally and even teases her with occasional bursts of kindness.  Salazar plays Manningham with an uber controlled menace and his ramrod posture makes Manningham seem like a cocked gun threatening to go off at any moment.  And that control is crucial as it makes his explosive moments of anger and violence truly frightening as the play surges to its conclusion.

Trevor Comstock is a delight as Detective Rough.  Comstock’s take on Rough reminded me of Jim Hutton’s interpretation of the fictional detective, Ellery Queen, as he seemed to be a bit of an absent-minded genius.  He clearly listens to Mrs. Manningham as he questions her about her current situation and husband, but his eyes show that he’s thinking ten steps ahead which make his replies seem cryptic, yet they’re not.  Comstock brings an indefatigable energy to the character as he warps about the room and you can practically taste his excitement in finally closing the lone open case of his career.  Comstock also brings the commanding presence needed to both buoy Mrs. Manningham and cow the steely Mr. Manningham.

Rachel Curtiss brings her all to the role of Mrs. Manningham.  This is not an easy role to play due to the massive emotional shifts of the character, but Curtiss nails it to the floor.  Curtiss does a good job of vacillating between being nearly broken emotionally and mentally, to a brief burst of happiness, to the wonderment of Rough’s story, to a little gaslighting of her own when she confronts her brute of a husband.  Curtiss’ body language is phenomenal as she seems like a spring that has been wound too tight and seems apt to break at any moment.

Mitch Bean has designed a fine upper middle-class house with well to do furniture such as a desk and secretary with fine china.  Sara Scheidies’ costumes suit the period of the time especially with the Victorian dress of Mrs. Manningham and the elegant wear and ascots of Mr. Manningham.  Trevor Comstock’s usage of lights is one of the best I’ve seen in a show as he uses it to set mood, particularly with the gaslights as the room darkens and lights based on the flow of gas.  Benjamin Salazar’s sounds help to enhance the action with the sounds of footsteps being a favorite of mine.

This is a truly intense and gripping night of theatre and I highly recommend seeing it and bringing a friend or loved one to get you through the spooky moments.  While this may be my first visit to Brownville Village Theatre, I can guarantee it won’t be my last.

Angel Street plays at Brownville Village Theatre through August 12.  Showtimes are 7:30pm on July 16 and 24, and August 4 and 12 and 2pm on July 23 and 31 and August 7.  Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased at the Box Office, visiting www.brownvillevillagetheatre.com, or calling 402-825-4121.  Due to intense scenes and subject matter, this show is not suitable for children.  Brownville Village Theatre is located at 222 Water Street in Brownville, NE.

In Search of the Truth

September 11, 2001 was one of the most horrific days in American history.  But what if there was a deeper, darker truth to what happened on that sad day?  What are the ramifications of knowing the real truth?  This is the thrust of Yankee Tavern by Steve Dietz and currently playing at the Circle Theatre.

I don’t usually go into a play blind.  By that I mean I know the general story before I sit down to watch it.  But the only knowledge I had of Yankee Tavern was that it centered around 9/11 and conspiracy theories.  This play is far more than that.  This play is an exciting mystery thriller with comedic undertones that will keep you on the edge of your seat as it twists and turns with compelling characters and electric dialogue until the final moment.

Ryle Smith’s direction is a superior piece of work as he expertly navigates the ebbs and flows of this story, builds beautiful tension, and sets a firecracker pace.  Smith has also directed fantastic performances from his cast of four with each having a sizzling chemistry with the others, making for a sensational ensemble experience.

Smith also does double duty by playing the role of Adam Graves, an adjunct instructor and political writer who also owns the titular Yankee Tavern.  Smith’s Adam is an incredibly multifaceted character.  He’s a bit of a prankster as he messes with his wife, Janet (played by Rose Glock), by making up fake guests to invite to their upcoming anniversary party.  Smith also bestows a wonderful intelligence and logic on Adam which is best demonstrated in his verbal spars with his late father’s best friend, Ray (played by David Sindelar) as they debate about what really happened on 9/11.

But Adam also carries his share of darkness and secrets as he is unable to accept his father’s suicide and has a connection with a former female boss which may be far more than employer/employee.  Smith handles these heavier moments with equal sureness, especially in a climactic argument with Janet in Act II.

David Sindelar gives an award worthy performance in the role of Ray.  A self-professed “itinerant homesteader”, Ray, at first, seems like he’s going to be the kooky comedy relief as he lives in the abandoned Yankee Hotel, talks with ghosts, and sees conspiracies everywhere.  But once Ray and Adam start arguing over 9/11, that’s when you see this character’s true intellect.

Ray’s arguments are amazingly persuasive because they are grounded in logic and verifiable facts.  You may not necessarily believe them, but it does give you something to think about.  The arguments are helped by Sindelar’s sincere delivery.  Sindelar also gets to show some pathos and depth when he talks about why his wife left him and the events of his best friend’s last day of life which demonstrate why Ray’s world is preferable to real life.

It is an arduous role because Ray likes to talk, dissect, analyze, and expound.  The sheer bulk of the dialogue caused Sindelar to trip on his lines on a couple of occasions, but he didn’t let it slow him down or get him off track.

Rose Glock is, at turns, sweet, harried, and haunted as Janet.  Janet is on the same intellectual plane as Adam and Ray and is able to hold her own in their conspiracy theory debates.  But she also has a peculiar form of survivor’s guilt because she didn’t lose anybody in 9/11 which leads to a relationship with an unseen character that causes Janet to have an intense loathing of secrets.  Ms Glock handles the emotional beats of the character well and really gets to shine in Act II with intense showdowns with Adam and the mysterious Palmer.

Kevin Barratt’s interpretation of Palmer is underplayed mastery.  He rarely speaks in Act I, but has a hypnotic presence.  He sits quietly at the bar with two Rolling Rocks, toasts an unseen companion, and seems to be grappling with a heavy burden.  Barratt has tremendously animated eyes that let you watch his shifting emotions without him uttering a single word.  When he finally does speak, he is so soft spoken and earnest that it’s hard to determine if he’s a crackpot or if he truly does know things that he probably shouldn’t know.

Barratt really ramps things up in act II during a prolonged verbal battle with Janet over Adam and his possible connection to a potential key figure in 9/11.  What I found utterly fascinating about Barratt’s take on Palmer is that he is looking for absolution, not revenge.  He has knowledge that he would rather not have, but must seek the truth out to the end for the sake of his soul.

There are few things I love more than a good mystery and this play gave that to me and then some.  This show is about so much more than whether there was more to 9/11 than met the eye.  It is a show about the secrets we keep from each other and that is something that will strike the heart of anybody who watches this play.

Yankee Tavern has one final performance on October 30 at 8pm.  The Circle Theatre is producing this show at First United Methodist Church at 7020 Cass Street in Omaha, NE.  For reservations, contact the Circle at 402-553-4715 or via e-mail at dlmarr@cox.net.  Tickets cost $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, and $10 for students, active military, and T.A.G. members.