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Vertical
Talking: A Complex Network of Relationships
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Kerri
Kanelos
August
3rd 2003 |
|
 Vertical
Talking, written by Robert Lawson and
directed by Alice Reagan, is a complex story
between fifteen characters that takes place
almost simultaneously. The set design, four
black platforms of various heights, kept the
characters grouped together quite well and
provided the perfect arena to witness the
intricate relationships between each character.
The performance
opens as a soldier (Galen Kilbridge) sits
in a local café as he contemplates
between an engagement ring and a letter from
an undisclosed source. After finishing his
drink, he ascends the steps of his love (Brandy
Bourassa) and finally proposes to her. She
gladly accepts and they entangle in a loving
embrace. But are they truly happy?
Government agents
(Erin Davis, Graham Messe and Anne Wilson)
moved in sync to German instructions as they
straighten their suits, check their gun holsters
and put on their black sunglasses. Their professional
rigidity and uniformity is reminiscent of
Agent Anderson of Matrix fame. And
who are the government agents after?
Three anarchists
(Haley Baptist, Carlyn Barrow and Sarah Humphreys)
dressed to the nines in black and red, are
after a comical, yet conniving politician
(Adam Lubitz) and his equally sketchy aide
(Zac Baker-Salmon). How will the anarchists
rise up against the loathsome politician?
The café
owner and bar maids (Kirsten White, Carmen
Thurston and Robin Bourassa) provide some
comic relief as they serve each character,
rejoice over the young couple's engagement
and also partake in some secret sharing. To
make the network of relationships complete,
a nosy bicycle delivery boy (Brendan Carroon)
falls in love with a young girl (Kat Sanford)
who is continuously carrying baskets of flowers
throughout the performance. Confused yet?
As the story
progresses, each relationship becomes more
and more complexly intertwined through a series
of deception and aggression that finally ends
in death.
 The
actors in this performance, none over the
age of seventeen, played incredibly believable
and complex characters. Whether kicking back
a drink at the café while tiredly smoking
a cigarette, or preparing explosives in political
opposition, each actor truly adapted to their
role. Besides tackling mature topics such
as war, love, terrorism and political strife,
each actor also had the daunting task of getting
their point across without words. I am sure
that this performance gave each cast member
the opportunity to learn techniques that are
touched upon until most college level courses.
After witnessing
several of Bob Lawson's productions as a student
at Franklin Pierce College, I was thoroughly
prepared to jot down the thought provoking
monologues that are contained in many of his
pieces. Imagine my surprise when I finally
realized, ten minutes into the performance,
that there would not be one spoken word in
Vertical Talking.
I really enjoyed
the fact that there was no discernable location
or time period for this piece. Although the
anarchists used dynamite and a manual typewriter
for their political crusade, the agents carried
cellular phones. The music, which was brilliantly
chosen for each part of the performance, included
a mix of German, English and French.
 The
one place where Vertical Talking lacked
was in the overall on-stage blocking. There
seemed to be many instances of missed cues,
especially during the dance numbers. However,
I do not fault the actors for these indiscretions.
With its lack of words, intricate body language,
and difficult blocking, Vertical Talking
provided quite a challenge for any actor because
there was virtually no room for error.
Andy's Playhouse
is a small theatre located in the town Wilton,
New Hampshire. Named after C.W. Anderson,
the wildly popular children's author of such
horse books as Blaze and Thunderbolt,
Andy's began over thirty years ago in the
neighboring down of Mason. In the late 1980s,
Andy's acquired the former Wilton town hall
and began all operations out of that location.
As their website states, "Andy's programs
foster creative collaborations between children
and professional artists who work in a variety
of media: performance art, theater, dance,
music, puppetry, video, set and lighting design
and playwriting."
For ticket information,
call the box office at 603-654-2613. For a
lineup of Andy's Playhouse performances, visit
their website at www.andyssummerplayhouse.com
This article was previously
published on www.lovethyjob.com |
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