Keeping your finger on the pulse of Performance Theater in Austin, Texas.
Reviewed By: Sean Fuentes
The differences in social classes is often defined by the amount of wealth one family controls at any given time. And while wealth may put an individual in a position to make decisions that affect the lives and wealth of others it does not afford them the wisdom to make the most heathy decision for all. This class definition is as true now as it was in 1912 Edwardian England when J.B. Priestley penned “An Inspector Calls”, a play that has helped dissolve the social walls that exist between classes by diving deep into the actions of the wealthy and prosperous.
The play begins in the middle of a celebration that soon comes to an end as Inspector Goole, played by Garry Peters, interrupts the party with the news of a young ladies passing. All are shocked at the details of the young ladies gruesome death, but none are ready for the inquisition that Inspector Goole casts on each party member and their involvement in the demise of the young lady. Peters’s Goole is tactfully strong and calmly aggressive in his business of interrogation as he moves swiftly across the stage taking down pawn of after pawn storming his way to the truth. Peters performance of Goole is thrilling! As Peters has the fewest speaking lines this brings out his enormous ability to do most of the pushing and shoving, that Inspector Goole has to do, through facial gestures, body language, and stern posturing.
One by one Goole forces each character to realize the error in their judgment over the young lady. Arthur Birling, played by Sam Z. Damon, is the first to taste the sting of Inspector Goole’s quest for the truth. Damon’s performance is fantastic, as Birling is as regal and hard nosed as Winston Churchill, but as jovial as a sophisticated bar fly. Moving slowly from side to side and almost slurring every bit of knowledge and calculated guesses that drip from his mouth Damon makes you realize that wealth and social stature are all that matter is his 1912 Edwardian England world. Tied up in that same world is Gerald Croft, played by Trey Deason, son of a friendly business rival of Arthur Birling’s and engaged to Birling’s daughter Sheila Birling, played by Nicole Swan, is caught between his old world upbringing and his new world sensibility. Deason’s Croft is nervous and decisive as he makes his way from lover to groom. Swan’s Sheila is feisty and remorseful as her ability as a free thinker helps her to overcome her cruel deeds and warns all, especially her mother Sybil Birling played by Paula Gilbert, that they need follow in her footstep and yield to Inspector Goole. But Sybil Birling will not yield and stands strong in the belief that her decisions were socially just. Gilbert’s Birling has all the uppity snootiness of a wealthy socialite who has earned the right to be better than everyone else including her son Eric Birling, played by Andy Smith. Smith’s Eric Birling is grumpy and curt as his closet is full with more secrets and bones than anyone else. Deason, Swan, Gilbert, and Smith put in strong performances as their characters wrestle with the turmoil they have caused. The cast is rounded out with Amy Lewis’s Edna, who is the house keeper.
“An Inspector Calls” is a mystery thriller with an ending that only Houdini could conger up, and will have you calculating, brainstorming and ultimately guessing, as to who done it! Through the direction of Norman Blumensaadt and assistant director Carol Ginn the audience’s eyes are channeled to what Blumensaadt wants them to see and experience. From the awe inspired entrance of Inspector Goole to his profit like exit, the set changes put the audience in perfect view to feel and see each characters pain. As the play comes to an end you are confronted with the naked fact that some of the characters have broken through the walls that separate the social classes while others are remain trapped behind them.
Muses III: Memories of a House
Produced by: The Vestige Group
Full Run Dates
Thursday, Friday and Saturday: August 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 at 7:30
Sundays: August 23rd and 30th at 5:30
Have you ever walked into a house and instantly new you could start making memories in it? Well the directors over at The Vestige Group have beaten you to it with their third installment of “Muses III: Memories of a House”. The task at hand, is to locate a beautiful house full of individuality, character, and charm, bring writers in from across the country and have them write a scene for a particular room, and then have local directors and actors work around the existing furniture and décor to produce a powerfully innovative production. Did Vestige Group succeed.. We’ll soon find out.
As I sat out side conversing with the rest of the audience members I was instantly struck by the vegetation guarding the front of the house. While most of the houses on the block have trees and beautiful landscaping, this houses subtle individuality sets itself apart from the rest. After finishing my drink the night began with the audience members being divided up into groups with each group getting a guide for the evening. My group was led through the side yard to the back of the house. Once I rounded the corner an set my eyes on the backyard setting my mind kicked into over drive as I conjured up the types of parties I could throw at this house if it were mine. After being seated we were hit with the short play “Poolside” by Marshall Ryan and directed by Aaron Black, and staring Christa Haxthausen, and Phillip Emmanuel. “Poolside” puts a twist on girl meets boy when a gorgeous older woman meets a handsome younger man the second time around. Followed up by “Span” written by Kristin Harrison and directed by Jen Brown, “Span” staring t Michelle Ward, takes you on a journey through the inner workings of a woman trapped in a web of her own making. The third course in my Vestige Group eleven course theatre meal was Sarah Saltwick’s “Wet” directed by Will Hollis Snider. “Wet”, which happened to be one of my favorites of the night, drops you deep in heart of a sinister plan to build a family, but not the old fashioned way. Wren played by Jen Brown and Brun played by Gabe Smith put on a heart throbbing, invigorating performance and leaves you wondering how it all ends. The next course pushed the boundaries of theatre to its outer limits with “Wherein we tell our secrets to strangers” written and directed by Susie Gidseg. With an emphasis on the coordination of physical movements with the timing of sound, a woman, played by Yvonne Young, lets you into her inner most thoughts with out speaking a word. That concluded the outdoor theatre for the evening. With the first four courses rolling around in my minds belly we entered the house for the final 7 plates.
Upon entering the house you are instantly struck with how each room varies from the next, but no time to stop and stare as we were taken upstairs to an eerily decorated and lit room for the tasting of Jenny Keto’s “Bloody Mary”. Kimberly Mead plays Anne, a woman who has seen something she can never un-see, and it has intoxicated her life from that moment on. After a short trip to a lower level room we are thrust into the middle of a romantic comedy called “Swallowing Gum” written by Jenny Keto and directed by Jen Brown. Our two love birds Alexander Kirkilis and Chris Higgins are stuck thinking too much, wanting too much, and just trying to hard. In another favorite of mine Kirkilis and Higgins display great chemistry and timing as they playfully enjoy each others company. After a short trip to the garage Martha Lynn Coon is next with “Buried”, directed by Susie Gidseg and staring Liz Watts as Lou Ann, a woman who is lost in her past while trying to deal with her future decides it might be best to fly like the wind. From the garage we enter a secondary room where Evelyn LaLonde stars in Barry Pineo’s “Portraits”. Directed by Susie Gidseg this one woman play takes the audience though the life of a family threought the eye of its daughter. Susie Gidseg keeps it rolling as she directs Max Langert’s “Little Beethoven”. Patricia, played by Tracy Medberry, is in the turmoil of dealing with a traumatic experience as she is greeted by a mysterious stranger whose talents change her life. Coincidentally the last two short plays take place in the kitchen area where Trey Deason’s 10th course, “Brownies” is directed by Susie Gidseg and stars Michele Goodson Burnett as Shana, a woman coming to grips with her short comings as a daughter. Burnet displays her talent as she runs the gambit of emotions and makes you look inside yourself to find your own imperfections with family and friends. Maybe it was luck or maybe it was planned, but for me the best was saved for last. “Spilled Milk” by Bastion Carboni and directed by Jen Brown, is an interesting tale of a relationship on the outs. Lauren, played by Sarah Granger, and Lane, played by Natalie Navar, are confronted by the end of innocence. Granger and Navar work well together as one tries to hold on to what the other has let go. This scenario is displayed through the entire short play but is eloquently shown as Lauren blindly reaches for the hand of Lane while Lane slowly pulls it out of reach. After this short play our guide, Benjamin Wright, challenged the audience to figure out what “Spilled Milk” was really about. My take is simple but unverified. Lane is a vampire who takes solace in the company of children. After the children grow to be adults she leaves them to find another child. This short is about that transition from an adult to another child. Am I right?? You will have to see the show to find out.
I want to take a moment to give thanks to Pam and Phil Friday for giving The Vestige Group the opportunity to take over their one of a kind home. I couldn’t help finding myself wishing that my next home would look exactly like there house or at least have some of the feel good qualities that their home exudes. I have a feeling, unless you don’t have a pulse, you will feel the same way I do about their home. The Vestige Group has cook up a delicious night of theatre by carefully mixing up a gorgeous venue, terrific writing, quality acting, and solid directing that will satisfy the cravings of all theatre junkies, and with only one weekend left time is running out.
