LATE-NIGHT THEATER DOCUMENTS A BROKEN HEART
LATE-NIGHT THEATER DOCUMENTS A BROKEN HEART
The idea is fascinating behind Alice Trumbo’s “And Then She Left Me.” A late night production is playing downtown at Beowulf Alley Theater, presented by LNT@The Alley.
What if you could find out why your girlfriend dumped you by documenting the breakup – on video. It would be like those PBS documentaries about Winston Churchill’s secret love life, or Joseph Stalin executing all the guys he hated in high school.
Only it could be about you!
The filmmaker would be your best friend with a video camera, dissecting the personalities of all your ex-girlfriend’s friends, getting to the real truth. Maybe asking probing questions of your ex-girlfriend’s parents that revealed character flaws when she was a little girl.
Then there would be the noble side, that’s the part about you. What if you could go to Casa Video and find rows of DVDs detailing the lives and hard times of all your friends. Watching them would be like a history lesson, only about people you actually know. The short clips on YouTube could be even more immediate.
Playwright Alice Trumbo goes exploring this landscape in her satire of the “my face” generation – the first generation with the technology to see themselves whenever they want on TV.
Well, yes, the laptop computer screen isn’t exactly TV. And the internet isn’t exactly network television. But both are close enough. Most of the time a guy’s ego gets stroked just seeing himself doing something stupid for laughs on a cell phone.
Maybe those aging boomers were the first generation to grow up with TV, but computer screens have the advantage of being more personal. Which is where Trumbo’s play comes in.
There is power in knowing low-cost digital technology now makes it possible to accurately document the most trivial life. Small deeds can be broadcast just like great deeds.
So, ladies, keep your cell phones handy if it seems like that guy is about to dump you. Capture the moment and put his face online so the world can see what he’s really like.
But back to Trumbo’s play. The production directed by Lydia Borowicz is a laid-back affair. Taking a casual approach to their craft, the actors deliver their lines in offhand ways which do seem natural, though they lack focused intensity.
Marcus Palm in a small role as Tim provides the comic relief and steals the show. Talent-wise he looks about ready to join Tucson’s prime time players.
Josh Parra is solid as Sean the documentary filmmaker. Evan Engle as Caleb gets the role with the most emotional range.
A video camera on a tripod practically becomes a character, using a clever bit of technology to project onto a large screen whatever image the camera is “seeing” at the moment.
Structurally, we follow Sean and then Caleb as they do their own investigation of what actually led up to that fateful moment when two hearts were badly broken. Then comes the plot twist.
Also cast are: Irina Skaya, Geri Courtney-Austein, Ashley Kahhat, Tristyn Tucci, and Jasmine Williamson.
Performances at Beowulf Alley Theatre, 11 S. Sixth Ave., are June 12 and 13 at 10 p.m., also June 7 at 7:30 p.m. All tickets $8, details at www.beowulfalley.org
