“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thine heart.” (Proverbs 3:3)
By Eric George Tauber
SAN DIEGO — What is Truth? How subjective or objective is truth? When we remember the same incident very differently, do we have different “truths”? These philosophical questions have real-world ramifications, especially in our age of “alternative facts.”
Thomas Anthony is a handsome and charming young black man who’s a bit of a player. He’s had his share of intimate partners, which has gotten him into some trouble. Raised by a working class single mother, getting into Princeton seemed like a miracle.
Amber Cohen is a nervous Chatty-Cathy, who fancies Tom. She’s not a blushing virgin, but not a vamp either. She’s led a fairly privileged life, but it was the squash team that got her into Princeton, not her SATs.
A great many regrets begin with, “I was drunk….” The morning after leads to a he said/she said account of what took place. They had both been drinking, not enough to pass out but enough to dull their judgment and make their memories of that night rather fuzzy.
In a court of law, the accused is “innocent until proven guilty.” But, with no criminal charges filed, under the Title IX rules regarding sexual harassment and misconduct, the accuser and accused must face a university tribunal. For that, three professors need only be 51% certain of guilt. Each must tell their story and answer uncomfortably frank, probing questions. The two actors on a bare stage give us their pieces of the puzzle creating contrasting pictures.
Only recently has the language changed. It used to be “No means No.” But what if one party is too intoxicated to protest as in the Brock Turner case? Now, “Only yes means yes.” But how do you interpret “Actually…”?
And we can’t pretend that race doesn’t matter. Tom can’t get images of lynchings and the song “strange fruit” out of his head. Amber points out that one thing Blacks and Jews have in common is an awareness of how many people want to kill us. Our holidays are always there to remind us.
DeLeon Dallas is compelling as Tom. At every step, he was fully connected with his character. Emily Shain seemed a bit less so. Nervous and shy, she prattles on so much that it’s mildly annoying. Tom kisses her to stop the constant chatter.
These two don’t really belong together and maybe that’s the point. This isn’t a love story. They shared a drunken hookup with regrets that puts both of them in spotlights.
Actually was chosen for this season long before Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination and subsequent hearing and investigation into his past. But the parallels couldn’t be more timely. Actually raises provocative questions that are sure to keep conversations pretty lively.
Actually plays through Nov 2in the Lyceum Space.
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Tauber is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com