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Peer Reviews Sailor's Song: Don't Miss the Boat! A review by Niles T. Welch Entire contents are copyright © 2007 Niles T. Welch. All rights reserved.
A young sailor, Rich, is on bereavement leave with his uncle, whose wife is lying near death. During a brief respite from this death watch, Rich meets two sisters, Lucy and Joan, in a bar. They are eager to know him. He in turn, is asked to choose between them, and consequently, between what's real and what's not. Thus begins the dance. Rich sets the stage for all this by addressing the audience poetically, theorizing that if one could dance with life, that dance would be a waltz, with all its inherent contrasts, highs and lows. Indeed, the characters waltz through this whirling tale with grace and beauty, giving even the harshest and most naturalistic scenes a sharp poignancy and power. Beautifully written by John Patrick Shanley, and masterfully directed by Amy Attaway, The Necessary Theatre's production of Sailor's Song contrasts life and death, freedom and responsibility, and reality and fantasy, all set to a lyrical and musical backdrop, entwined with agile choreography. Andrew Pyle plays Rich skillfully as the central thread in this delicate weave, and transitions easily from stark reality to flight of fancy. Leah Michelle Roberts is superb as the earnest, very grounded Lucy. Lucy, to Rich, is very real -- but he doesn't want her to be. Kara Reeder, as her sister, the ethereal medium/psychic Joan, might have been flightier to sharpen the contrast, although that might have made her just a bit too unreal to tempt Rich. As Rich's earthy uncle John, Tad Chitwood is outstanding as he vents his conflicting emotions, blame and survivor's guilt in a manner that anyone who has witnessed the death of a loved one will recognize. Delilah Smyth, as both choreographer and as John's wife Carla, dances her way hauntingly through the character's death, memory and all that she has left undone. The result is impressive.
The author of the play, John Patrick Shanley, is perhaps better known for his Academy Award-winning screenplay Moonstruck or his Pulitzer Prize-winning Doubt. However, it is The Necessary Theatre's stated mission to promote and produce original and innovative works, a role the small theatre company considers "necessary." They have certainly done so with this production. Sailor's Song is an innovative
play, superbly directed and performed. This is
necessary theatre. Don't miss it!
Sailor's Song At the MeX Theatre, Kentucky Center for the Arts The Necessary Theatre
Posted Mar. 26, 2007 |
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