Plainsong

Reviewed by Holly Bartges

Holt, Colorado becomes so vibrant at the Stage Theatre, one wants to drive there to absorb the essence of the small town. Except the small town doesnÕt really exist. Commissioned by the Denver Center Theatre Company, Eric Schmiedl adapted the popular novel, Plainsong by Kent Haruf to the stage. As one of the three World Premieres to be featured in the Colorado New Play Summit, Director, Kent Thompson and his breathtaking cast turns the stage into the vast eastern Colorado plains.

Members of the cast of the Denver Center Theatre Company world premiere production of Plainsong. Photo by Terry Shapiro

I have to admit, right up front, having experienced the knockout production of Lydia the week before, it took me a while to warm up to the slow paced, by design, Plainsong. Even after a week, the impact of Lydia continued to captivate me. The warming up didn’t take long, however. I only wished Plainsong had been scheduled before Lydia. Fortunately, that has been rectified for the Colorado New Play Summit.

One glimpse at the stage on Opening Night, and I knew I was looking east on the Colorado prairie. The backdrop painting designed by scenic designer Vicki Smith, where earth and sky meet and white clouds coyly play with stronger, blacker clouds combined with Don Darnutzer’s brilliant lighting design of blues, and pinks, reds, and blackened grays pulls one immediately into the Eastern Colorado arena.

The design of the sparse stage setting magnificently keeps the back wall open to the expanse of the plains. At the same time the actors create the illusion of the many scene changes on their own volition. In this epic production, detailed trappings are anything but necessary. Tables and beds appearing from the belly of the stage point in the right direction, while the characters fill in the details.

Thirty-six characters come to life with several actors playing multiple roles. Costume designer, Susan E. Mickey wondrously fitted each character and actor with the 1980’s small town flair.

Because the various lives of so many people come to life, the cast stands out as an ensemble. At the same time individual actors give credence and power to their characters to memorable proportions. People living miles apart from each other thrive on a sense of community many living 20 feet apart never grasp.

Out of basic human need, Plainsong weaves the lives of several families together.

Tom Guthrie, (John Hutton) a high school teacher carries the world on his shoulders with two growing young boys, Ike, 10 years old, (Gabe Antonelli, Ian Frazier) and 9 year old Bobby (Keenan Johnson, Jeremy Singer), a wife, Ella, (Stephanie Cozart) who has fallen into depression over stark prairie isolation. High on Guthrie’s list is contending with rule defying, Russell Beckman (Josh Clayton). Principal Lloyd Crower, (Erik Sandvold) wants him graduated to get him out of the school. A dedicated teacher, Guthrie is bound and determined this arrogant troublemaker will graduate only if he knuckles down to pass American History.

Leslie O’Carroll and Sam Gregory as Russell’s parents, provide insight into Russell’s rebellious behavior with her loose-lipped foul mouth and his can’t- get-a word-in-edgewise-volatile temper.

Tiffany Ellen Solano takes on the role of 17 year old Victoria, pregnant frightened, alone, thrown out of her drunken mother’s house (Lauren Klein), and seeks comfort from her high school teacher, Maggie Jones (Kathleen McCall).

Of course, Victoria can stay until Maggie’s aged father, Mr. Jackson, (Randy Moore) having left his mental facilities for another world, makes it frightfully uncomfortable. What to do with a pregnant 17 year old?

Taking a risk, Maggie visits a couple of stuck-in-their-ways cattle rancher brothers, Raymond and Harold McPheron played respectively by Mike Hartman and Philip Pleasants.

Unmarried, the two brothers are connected at the hip in more ways than one. They know cattle. Keeping house is another item. Some of the most hilarious, heartbreaking, and poignant moments come from Hartman and Peasants. Agreeing to take Victoria into their home, they have no idea what to do for her much less how to talk to her, creating some intense uneasy, humorous moments. In the beginning, Victoria way too traumatized to give them any assistance.

Desperation becomes a great teacher. Although Raymond and Harold run short on expressing feelings, they not only fall in love with Victoria, they tale her to be one of their own. When she runs off to Denver with her baby’s father, Dwayne (Jeremiah Miller) having to learn some rough lessons the hard way, Raymond and Harold are lost. With a mean streak running down his back, a life-style of heavy partying, and a tight grip on ownership, Dwayne Ôs brutality awakens something very rich and meaningful within Victoria.

On their newspaper routes, Bobby and Ike discover the loneliness of old Mrs. Sterns (Klein). At first afraid of her, they become intrigued, then spellbound as she comes alive through their attention. Missing their mother who has moved to Denver, Mrs. Sterns through her stories and baking cookies fills a much-needed warm spot in the young boys. Her unexpected death shakes them to the core.

Hutton’s stance gazing out the kitchen window across the plains tells Guthrie’s story.

Sandvold brings Crowder’s position of wanting to get rid of Russell, pacifying the uncooperative parents, and changing Guthrie’s mind stands out.

Cozart uncovers sympathy for Ella in her desperation to find out who she is away from what she sees as the stark empty plains. She loves her boys, and they her. There is the wanting for her to return home, and the understanding why she won’t and can’t.

McCall’s gentle spirit with Maggie, her feelings for her confused father deliciously brought to life by Moore, her empathy toward Victoria, her rich insight into Raymond and Harold, her honesty toward Guthrie cradles the connection between everyone.

Solano’s in depth take on Victoria paints a picturesque portrait of a confused teenager. Solano wears the fear, anxiety, and hidden strength as comfortably as a tailor made outfit.

This awesome epic production is brilliantly tied together with well-placed staged narration carrying the story smoothly from beginning to end. With the sharp detailed characterizations, one is left feeling the characters are real people living in real Holt, Colorado. Considering the action of the play takes place in the 1980’s, there remains the feeling they are still there, at least most of them. Victoria would still be with Raymond and Harold. Her daughter would be grown, but still connected. Ike and Bobby would have graduated from college, and Guthrie would know the happiness he sought so long to glue his life together.

Except, of course, there is no Holt, Colorado. The characters remain only characters suggested by Haruf, dressed by Schmiedl, and brought to life by Thompson and the entire stunning brilliant cast.

This play needs to be experienced by everyone living on the Front Range out of sight of the eastern plains. Everyone only half interested in Colorado history should take advantage of it, see it, hear it, and absorb it. It is one thing to read the book. It is another to have the story brimming with intense life right before your eyes.

Tickets may be difficult to come by. Don’t wait!

There remains the wanting to drive to Yuma County.