When folks learn that I have attended all three ten-minute collections, the inevitable question is “Which should I attend?” or “Which is the best?” The answer to the first question is easy—all of them! The quality of all three evenings is high. Further, your own interests and theatrical preference can easily dictate a choice of any of the collections.
As for the best, if forced to choose this reviewer would select (by a narrow margin) these mortality plays. Also, while these reviews are strictly based upon the merits of the works, the fact that the two works by local playwright (Dressing Bobby Strong by Stephen Spotswood and The Aurora Mainframe by Timothy Guillot) shone the brightest is a pleasing tribute to our local theatre scene. – Steven McKnight
THE AURORA MAINFRAME
By Timothy Guillot
Directed by Nick Vargas
Cody (Chris Rudy) is an imaginative young boy, alone in his room, playing out a space fantasy. He is suitably dressed to be the powerful hero in the center of his saga, complete with a blanket secured by a binder clip to serve as the cape that many superheroes favor.
As the play proceeds, however, we find that the saga is Cody’s way of making sense of a very troubling personal situation. The details that explain the relevance of Cody’s play are slowly disclosed with the grace of a sunset. Only when Cody’s Mom (Katie Ryan) enters at the end do we get the full reveal.
Timothy Guillot demonstrates a fine melding of a playwright’s imagination and craft in this little gem of a play. The Aurora Mainframe provides a thoughtful start to the plays with the mortality theme.
NASTY, BRUTISH AND SHORT
By Jonathan Spector
Directed by Nick Vargas
If an apocalyptic conflict brought down the world as we know it, would we reconstruct society the same way or would we revisit the rules in light of the new world situation? That’s the intriguing construct forming the basis of Nasty, Brutish and Short (a title taken from Hobbes’ Leviathan, an early and influential examination of social contract theory).
The play centers on four characters trying to form an “Apocalypse Plan” on a white board. There is a married couple, Darla (Katie Ryan) and Gerald (Kevin Collins) – but is their marriage still in effect if society has collapsed? Claire (Carol Lampman McCaffrey) is the most persistent at questioning whether society’s rules need to continue, or whether the group, which also includes Barry (Max Schwager), should rethink matters based upon current circumstances. Bringing news of the violent new reality is Jessie (Emily Sucher).
Jonathan Spector gives hints of being a master satirist with all of the wit and humor the term entails. Nasty, Brutish and Short is both entertaining on its own and offers the foundation for a longer work that this reviewer would be eager to experience.
PAINTED
By Mariah MacCarthy
Directed by Angela Pirko
With the theme ‘Mortality’, it’s not surprising to find a deathbed story among the six short plays. Alma (Gayle Carney) is experiencing her final delirious hours and is visited by estranged daughter Michelle (Taylor Robinson).
The two had difficulties over Michelle’s decision to go to art school and pursue a career as a painter. Their relationship deteriorated further when Michelle came out as a lesbian with a serious girlfriend Lola (Noelle Viñas).
The novelty of this work is that Michelle’s painting (both literal and imaginary) is used as a bridge between the two. The literal painting on a variety of untraditional canvases does not work as well as the imaginary painting of Michelle’s vision for the future.
Although playwright Mariah McCarthy had a novel idea, the result feels a little forced and cloying. Only a pair of emotionally touching performances from Carney and Robinson save the work.
DRESSING BOBBY STRONG
By Stephen Spotswood
Directed by Annalisa Dias
A novel approach used much more successfully is found in Dressing Bobby Strong. Constance (Hazel Lozano) is a new funeral director’s assistant and her first assignment is to dress Bobby Strong (Kevin Collins), a former high school acquaintance.
When Constance transferred to a new high school, the person who was nice to her on her first day was Bobby. As a result she developed a distant secret crush on him, which she reveals as she tends to her duties.
Playwright Stephen Spotswood does an outstanding job mixing personal revelations about high school, family, and the nature of love in Dressing Bobby Strong. Every little detail is finely stitched together like an artisan’s embroidery. The work adroitly mixes gentle humor and wistful regret.
This reviewer has seen dozens of 10-minute plays at current and past Source Theatre festivals. Dressing Bobby Strong stands out as one of the best.
THE NARROW GATE
By Sarah Bernstein
Directed by Angela Pirko
Given our human insecurity about mortality, the promise of immortality can offer a strong lure. The promise of eternal life and happiness in a new “Exoverse” is powerful enough to attract two people to a cult.
Diane (Valeka Holt) and Sam (Adam Adkins) are two followers who converse about the promise of their upcoming future after leaving their “human vehicles” and travelling to the new world. They also address the sacrifice of leaving loved ones behind.
Playwright Sarah Bernstein has a clever mind and a talent for handling sudden, amusing shifts in tone (aided by a skilled performance by Valeka Holt). She skillfully moves inexorably towards the touching conclusion and demonstrates a sure control of the playwright’s craft. All under the direction of Angela Pirko.
DUST TO DUST TO DUST
By Aaron Weissman
Directed by Annalisa Dias
It is hard to improve upon the Source Theatre Festival program’s description of this play. “A boy mourning the loss of his father uses his ashes to create a universe in a box.”
Martece Caudle plays the boy who sets matters in motion. The union of Maya (Hazel Lozano) and Chirayu (Kiernan McGowan) cannot (and should not) be explained by a reviewer, but is definitely worth experiencing.
Dust to Dust to Dust is a fantastical work of whimsy. Such works are not this reviewer’s cup of tea and the fact that it felt enchanting is a strong tribute to Aaron Weissman’s script and skillful direction from Annalisa Dias (who demonstrated similar talent in her direction of Dressing Bobby Strong).
Dust to Dust to Dust is an astute choice for ending the evening. It evokes a larger universe and is a tribute to the expansive art of the theatre.
