Sizzling drama at BTG
by Christopher Key
One of the characters in August:
Osage County describes life in Northern Oklahoma: “This is the Plains: a state of mind, right, some spiritual
affliction, like the Blues.” Tracy
Letts’ Pulitzer prize-winning play isn’t a musical, but you can almost hear the
high, lonesome sound of Woodie Guthrie weaving through the production.
Credit Bellingham
Theatre Guild director Marla Bronstein for rescuing this brilliant play from
the typically glamorized Hollywood movie of 2013. She casts real people in the roles, giving it
an authenticity that Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and Benedict Cumberbatch can
only dream about.
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| Photo credit - David Cohn |
Kathy Murray
delivers a devastating performance as the pill-popping, potty-mouthed matriarch
of the Weston clan. Violet puts the funk
in dysfunctional by playing Eric Clapton on the stereo at every
opportunity. She also demonstrates
astounding range by playing a character that is totally opposite to type. Texas, hell.
Don’t mess with Murray.
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| Photo credit - David Cohn |
Violet’s oldest
daughter Barbara is given a rousing ride by the dynamic Deb Currier. When Mom goes out where the buses don’t run,
Barbara tries to take charge and good luck with that. Trying to run the Weston family is like
trying to herd cats. Mean, nasty
cats. Currier’s teaching schedule precludes
her from being in many shows, but she’s a pleasure to watch when she gets her
teeth into a role.
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| Photo credit - David Cohn |
I’ve had a
thing or three to say about Joan Prinz over the years and I’m sticking with all
of it. She plays Violet’s sister Mattie
Fae with a tongue that is sharpened on both sides. You think you’ve seen the Mom From Hell? Not until you’ve seen Prinz kick it into
gear.
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| Photo credit - David Cohn |
Middle children
are supposed to be peacemakers, engaging in shuttle diplomacy between the elder
and younger sibs. Carol Makela plays Ivy
with an understated grace that is tough to come by in this loud family.
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| Photo credit - David Cohn |
Karen is the
baby of the three sisters and Kari Severns captures her overweening narcissism
with an accuracy that will make you grind your teeth.
As you might
expect in such a family, the next generation is, as my Grandma would say, “a piece
of work.” Alex Farkas is brilliant as
Barbara’s pot-smoking, vegan daughter who has a mouth on her that could cut
titanium.
Shannon Jung
doesn’t get many lines as Indian (the Native American kind) housekeeper Johnna,
but she owns some of the most touching moments in the play.
There are some
magnificent male actors in this show, like Bob Simmons, Sean Walbeck, Michael O’Neal,
Lucas Naylor, Robert Muzzy and Mark Polin.
But let’s face it, guys, this one belongs to the women.
OK, it belongs
to the techies, as well. David Cohn has
designed a superb set that captures a time and place that is rapidly
disappearing. Master Carpenter Superjoe
and his crew worked overtime to build this one.
Lighting designer extraordinaire Ryan Goelzenleuchter obviously has far
too much fun herding photons and should sign this one on the bottom right
corner.
The language in
this show is as authentic as it gets, meaning it’s inappropriate for anyone
under 14 and anyone who objects to carpet f-bombing. Thematic material is also R-rated.
Really
top-notch drama will make you uncomfortable, so be prepared to squirm even
though the histrionics are tempered by lots of extremely black comedy. Bottom line: this is one of the best-directed
and best-acted shows you will ever see at the BTG and you’d best snag your
tickets early.
August: Osage County runs April 22 – May 8 at the H Street
playhouse. The box office is open 1 – 6 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday. Call (360)
733-1811 or order online at the BTG site.
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