By Carol Davis
CARLSBAD, California —It’s hard to believe that the very same playwright, Eugene O’Neill, who penned Long Day’s Journey Into Night, The Iceman Cometh, Morning Becomes Electra and Desire Under the Elms also is responsible for his one and only lighthearted comedy Ah, Wilderness. But then again, he was much younger and his reflection on a more blissful time in his life, or what he wished it might have been, is evidenced in the
family dynamics he sets before us as the time frame, 1906 and the location, Long Island Sound, Connecticut, parallel his own.
O’Neill’s slice of Americana at the turn of the 20th century is somewhat of a relief to the frenetic life in the fast lane of the 21st century of cell phones, computers, hand guns and riots so prevalent in our every day comings and goings as seen and read about in the press and on T.V. As a product of the forties and fifties, my time of innocence, I found myself yearning for some of that time again; a time of genuine caring and cordiality as portrayed in the Miller family even knowing that O’Neill’s family life was never that idyllic, nor would ever be as witnessed in his darker plays particularly his Long Day’s Journey Into Night.
The Millers, Mom (Kristianne Kurner), Dad (Manny Fernandes) are worried about their seventeen year old son Richard (Kyle Lucy) because he is reading the likes of Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw and quoting Omar Khayyám and Swinburne to his girlfriend Muriel. This preoccupation with ‘what to do about Richard’ takes front and center stage in this coming of age comedy of O’Neill’s.
On the sidelines, but given equal time, Uncle Sid (Daren Scott) and Lily Miller (Dana Case) continue to play a cat and mouse game about whether or not Sid will come home from the 4th of July celebrations sober or drunk. If it’s the former she might give him another chance at considering marriage. If not it’s the status quo or the cold-shoulder. Young Tommy Miller (Jonah Gercke) and his fifteen year old sister Mildred (Roma Watkins) tease each other getting on each other’s nerves and older brother Arthur Miller (John DeCarlo) home for the summer from Yale takes it all in and offering little in exchange.
This 4th of July like those of the past include a family picnic, a ride in the family Buick and fireworks. But this year something is afoot with Richard. He’s smitten with Muriel (Kelly Iverson), which goes against the grain of her father (Jack Missett). He has developed a voice of his own as well as espousing some controversial ideas about individual liberties and freedoms, enough so as to be cut off from seeing his true love by both sets of parents.
His rebelliousness lands him in the doghouse, causing him to run off to town with friends, drown his sorrows in drink and spend his allowance on one of the ‘girls of the night’ only to catch a large dose of remorse later on. Not to worry, though unlike Long Day’s Journey this does have a happy ending.
This year is The New Village Arts’ eleventh year of producing plays and as a first of the new season has launched its Ensemble Arts Project, which according to Executive Artistic Director Kristianne Kurner is a “family affair”. Most, familiar with the works of NVA, are equally familiar with the wonderfully talented assembled in this the very first play of the Project.
Richard, (Kyle Lucy) recently seen in Waving Goodbye is wonderfully at ease and immersed as the strong headed seventeen year old on the verge of coming into his own. Tender, awkward and funny scenes between himself and his true love Muriel are to be relished as an age of innocence combined with the coming of age for the two teenagers.
As to be expected Manny Fernandes who turned heads in Sailor’s Song and Golden Boy is perfectly matched as Nat Miller patriarch, newspaper editor and the one everyone, especially his wife Essie, turns to as the last resort for disciplining the children to handling family affairs to giving Richard the ‘Birds and Bees’ lecture after they learn he went off to town and might have taken up with some girls of ill repute.
Kristianne Kurner’s Essie has the familiar ‘mother role’ feel, bustling about heading off any dangers her family might encounter and stirring up the pot but diligently staying out of the center of any storm, yet at the same time driving the train. She does this with assurance and confidence. The chemistry between Nat and Essie is what gives this production the glue it needs to remind the audiences of a time when families worked together to a common end.
Daren Scott’s Uncle Sid, the AA reject is played to the hilt with fun and gusto. Scott does shine in most productions and this in no exception. The chemistry, however between the woman he is supposedly in love with Lily Miller, is no match. As stern and disciplined as Lily has to be, any connection falls on deaf ears and blind eyes. Unfortunately this mismatched couple has no place to go on any level.
Kelly Iverson who plays three different roles does just fine as the nearsighted maid, the saloon prostitute and girlfriend Muriel is somewhat believable but her look needs much improvement over the tacky wigs she wears. Other than that Dana Case and Kristianne Kurner’s period costumes and Tim Wallace’s sketchy outline and period furniture are perfect for the turn of the century background. Chris Renda designed the subtle lighting and director Amanda Sitton put it all together.
Watch for the same actors who will be serving in different capacities and roles throughout this eleventh season. Choosing plays that can accommodate a large ensemble and who can easily slip in and out of every play and do it well will be the challenge for this young theatrecompany. Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men will be the next ensemble piece. In between Will Eno’s Thom Pain (based on nothing), a one-man show is opening Sept 10th.
This is a fine opportunity to catch this seldom done comedy and for what it’s worth, it’s a delightful look back.
See you at the theatre.
Dates: through Aug. 28th
Organization: New Village Arts
Phone: 760-433-3245
Production Type: Comedy
Where: 2787 State Street, Carlsbad,
CA
Ticket Prices: $22.00-$38.00
Web: newvillagearts.org
Venue: New Village Arts Theatre
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Davis is a San Diego based theatre critic. She may be contacted at carol.davis@sdjewishworld.com