Open Wardrobes

I know, I know, I've been somewhat remiss in keeping up with my blog lately. (I'm going to blame it on work being busy and studying for a Chinese midterm.) But I've been continuing to see shows. Last weekend I saw fellow Greenies Sylena and Olivia in The Music Man, and last night I went to see Picnic at Lakeshore Players, whose cast included Greenies Jessica, Kate, and Jacob. This was not a play I was familiar with, and it is always a treat to see a new play (new for me, anyway, the play itself is decades old) that is just so good. As a playwright when a script is poor it is hard for me to get beyond that, but Picnic by William Inge was a well-written treat and so I'd say its 1953 Pulitzer Prize was well-deserved (I didn't know plays could win Pulitzers, hmm...). So kudos to Lakeshore for picking such a gem that my generation at least does not know as well.


And so the fine script left me free to enjoy the story and the characters. The cast was strong overall. The sisters, Madge and Millie (Kate, our water spirit from Greens), were both wonderful and worked great together. Madge is "the pretty one" and Millie "the smart one," with the irony that each is deeply jealous of the other. Their mother Flo (played by Martha Wigmore) also gave an excellent performance (and I have to apologize, my program is in the car and I don't remember the names of the actors I didn't already know!), torn as she was between what's best for her daughters and her own regrets. Rounded off by Allen, Madge's kind and devoted boyfriend, and Hal, the handsome drifter who sparks a new passion in Madge, were also solid. Jessica Scott as schoolteacher Christine also gave a sparkling performance which was all too brief given her sharp characterization, and Jacob Hugart plays older businessman Howard who provides a steady and calm contrast to Hal.


What I really enjoyed about the way Hal was both written and played was that he is not simply the stereotypical "bad boy." He brags, yes, but as Allen points out it's "because he's actually done most of the things he brags about," not out of ego. Hal is a likable guy with his own insecurities, and it is clear he envies the steady Allen, which makes Allen's betrayal of Hal (once the romance between Hal and Madge takes off) all the more tragic. It is the "good" boy that betrays his friend, and the "bad" boy who genuinely wants to start building a steady life with he girl he loves. And so Madge's decision at the end only feels right.


I also have to call attention to Picnic's fine direction, courtesy of Connie Mills. The mark of a truly good director is how little you notice it during the show and such was the case here. Everything flowed together seamlessly and I saw new things pulled out of actors I knew. Everything contributed to the whole, which resulted in one of the most enjoyable theatrical experiences I've had recently. So all in all, this is a terrific production which I heartily recommend. Last night was opening night, so in addition to the rest of this weekend there are still three more weekends to catch Picnic before it closes on March 29th.