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This Scarecrow Has A Brain
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Mary DeBerry
April 20th 2008 |
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There are many elements to consider when reviewing a play - the technical aspects as well as the aesthetic. But with Lenny Swartz’s play, Scarecrow, now playing at the Bell Street Chapel in Providence, there is an additional component that is important to include. That additional component is Lenny Schwartz’s process for putting a very personal and scary segment of his own life on stage for all to see.
This play, presented by the Daydream Theater Company, is not the first stage play to spotlight a real person's experience, but as I suggested in the title, this production about a young man's struggle with anorexia called Scarecrow, has a brain. What I mean is that it is thought provoking, intelligent, and well crafted. It is not just a voyeuristic display of horror-filled vignettes.
It also has a heart. Like The Tin Man, Schwartz has the heart to be concerned about his audience. He ends his play on an upbeat note so that the audience doesn't leave the theater depressed by the downside of his affliction. To further the analogy, I believe that playwright and director, Schwartz, has the courage of the Cowardly Lion as well. He wasn’t sure during the development process that it was worth the risk. What would people think when they found out about his most intimate fears and behaviors? But he overcame those fears so that the presentation of his story may encourage and inspire others.
Throughout Scarecrow, the importance of the support of family and friends is crystal clear. At first, of course, the concerned people surrounding the main character, named David, are seen as nags and interferers. Mom and Dad seem typically over-involved in their grown son's life. David's brother appears to be interested only in his own little universe. Even David's friends don't seem particularly tuned in to his needs, although that changes as the play progresses. These varied characters invade David’s imagination and his dreams, charging through like a herd of elephants, nearly trampling him to death. However, it is by the actions of one of his friends that David is ultimately rescued.
Lenny Schwartz has written a number of plays. The strength of his experience and discipline are evident in the tight structure and judicious editing of Scarecrow, although the first act did seem just a tad too long. There are five or six main characters in this play, with several additional smaller parts. That’s a lot of characters to fully develop and balance. While Swartz did have his real life counterparts to model, the playwright still had to adapt character traits, speech patterns, etc. so that the audience could easily understand them.
I had an interesting chat with playwright Schwartz after the performance about how his family members reacted to their on-stage portrayals. Schwartz revealed that his family and friends would be more upset if they weren’t played close to their “real” selves – perceived faults and all. That’s quite impressive. I think most of us would hope we’d end up portrayed as either a superhero or Mother Theresa on stage.
Schwartz's sharp and appropriately witty dialog was showcased by fine cast performances. Dillon Medina as David was a marvel of sustained energy and focus. The character of David was on stage for nearly every scene. The intensity of Medina's performance was consistent and full throughout the performance. Maya Santanrea as David's sarcastic, hyperactive lesbian buddy was delightfully entertaining and added a trampoline-like bounce of energy to every scene she was in. Bill Lange's performance as a person with a different kind of eating disorder was alternately funny and poignant as he successfully avoided a stereotypical portrayal.
Paula Dugan and Dan Brown as David's mom and dad gave well-defined performances as parents any young person would recognize. Mom always pushing her children to eat more food and make good choices, Dad not wanting to hear about problems, cherishing his comfy chair and command of the remote control. James Kelly was a surprise in the second act as he suddenly came to life, challenging his father about his brother's anorexia. His character suddenly realizing how serious the situation was for David.
The Bell Street Chapel is a divine venue with its intimate stage setting, wonderful wooden floors and high ceiling. It does have some technical limitations, though, and I would like to have seen more specific lighting changes to enhance David's monologues. His character frequently breaks through the 4th wall in the process of telling his story.
Lenny Schwartz and his partner Jim Belanger already have several sold out nights for their New York City run of Scarecrow at Nicu's Spoon Theater on 38th Street. The New York City run will be presented May 29 through Mary 31st. I would highly recommend seeing the production here in Providence, but it is well worth the trip to New York City if you don't catch locally. |
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