By Eva Trieger
SOLANA BEACH, California — They’re back! They’re back! I’ve just come from North Coast Rep’s production of Mark St. Germain’s “Dancing Lessons.” This piece was superbly directed by Richard Baird, and enacted by Christopher Williams and Leilani Smith. Baird has appeared on stage in many excellent North Coast plays, but he is also an accomplished director as evidenced by this sensitive and very human play about the interconnectedness of an injured dancer and a man with Aspberger’s syndrome.
Senga Quinn (Leilani Smith) has been in an accident that has robbed her of her future as a dancer, unless she can convince a doctor to perform a very high risk surgery. She has holed up in her New York City apartment. A neighbor, Ever Montgomery (Christopher Williams), a professor with Asperberger’s, needs to learn to dance for a social engagement. The two meet, and through a series of conversations, learn about the challenges each faces in his/her lives. Their exchanges are honest, direct and often funny due largely to Montgomery’s concrete mind and Quinn’s “imagination.”
Smith has appeared in the television miniseries, “Trace” and has received Best Ensemble 2016 for “Flying West.” She has been seen in films and on several stages in Los Angeles. The actor, if not a dancer, certainly convinced me that she was a trained dancer with a fluid body and graceful limbs. This is her debut at North Coast Rep, but I’m hopeful she will return soon.
Williams really did his homework. His portrayal of a man with autism was flawless. His jerky movements and fact-spewing were truly accurate and his ability to remain in character for the entire show was fabulous and impressive. Williams’ credits include many shows at North Coast Rep, screen performances in “Terriers,” “Island of the Lost Girls,” as well as producing a film,“Walking with the Enemy,” starring Ben Kingsley and Jonas Armstrong.
What this show does so well is point up how despite our differences, what we humans want, is really not so disparate. Despite our proclivities, we all strive to be loved, desired and seen. We mostly want to fit in where we can, while being accepted for our peculiarities. Whether that connection happens through touch, the spoken word or a shared experience, if we can find the common ground and honor each other, we can move forward with wholeness. A beautiful “dream sequence,” choreographed by Cate Caplin, encapsulates this notion before the play’s final curtain.
Immensely gifted and prolific set designer Marty Burnett and Phillip Korth, props, welcome us into an authentic apartment in New York City. From here we have a view of other brownstones through windows which cleverly serve as projection screens at times, thanks to Aaron Rumley and Matt Novotny.
This beautiful, poignant play is the perfect return-to-live-theater for North Coast Rep, and with a 90-minute run time and no intermission, masks can be tolerated. Patrons do need to have a proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test before entering the theater. Masks are required. David Ellenstein, artistic director, has every reason to be very proud of the plays that were filmed and streamed over the last 18 months. They have kept the patrons’ nourished and satiated until we could return to live productions.
Sitting in the theater today, I was reminded of what a gift live theater is, and how sitting with an audience watching talented people share a story through dialogue and movement is something we can never again take for granted.
What are you waiting for? This show is only here until October 3.
Tickets for “Dancing Lessons” can be found at northcoastrep.org or by calling the box office at 858.481.1055.
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Eva Trieger is a freelance writer based in Solana Beach, California.