by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
ABET’s first play of 2008 offers you a rare opportunity to see a North Florida premiere of a play by the late and great Arthur Miller. What’s more is The Ride Down Mount Morgan is also the only comedy he ever wrote. Miller is well known for plays such as Death of a Salesman, View from the Bridge and The Crucible. He is also rather famous for having married actress Marilyn Monroe, but that is another story.
The Ride Down Mt. Morgan refers the ride that the central character, Lyman, takes down an icy mountain road in upper New York State, a ride which results in a crash and injuries that completely change his life. As he recovers in intensive care, Nurse Logan (very professionally played by Sonia Simpson) informs him that his wife and daughter are waiting to see him. Yes, his wife of 32 years, Theo, and his married daughter, Bessie, have driven up from their Manhattan home, deeply concerned for his health. Lyman is also very concerned, not so much for his health but because he is a bigamist. His other wife and 9-year old son live in the area, but his first wife doesn’t know about them!
The dramatic confrontation of the two wives’ first encounter in the waiting room starts the sparks flying. From there the story of how he met and married both women unfolds in a series of flashbacks that are acted out on either side of the stage. This sounds terribly serious, but Arthur Miller shows us through his skillful writing that bigamy can be witty and very funny. And he still manages to make moral judgments.
The talented Tom Trauger is back in town after being absent for a couple of years and he is excellent as Tom, Lyman’s attorney. Tom patiently tries to find a solution between the frightened and verbally fighting women.
Katie Metz makes her local theatre debut with ABET and ably conveys anguish of the disapproving daughter Bessie. Welcome Libra Gysel in her first role on local stages. She is marvelous as the Theo, an intelligent, classy lady who knew of and silently tolerated her husband’s womanizing, until learning of another wife, which proved to be the ultimate rejection and insult.
Karen Garrett is one of Jacksonville’s most talented and versatile actresses and I don’t think there is an accent she can’t do. She has proved that over the past 15 years. As Leah, the 2nd wife, she is a sexy, smart insurance agency owner who went into partnership with the fast talking Lyman. He told her he was divorced and married her when she became pregnant with their son.
Cliff Rigsbee is fabulous as the bombastic, but charming Lyman, an insurance executive who could sell refrigerators to Eskimos. Rigsbee has as many lines as the entire cast put together and it is amazing he can keep track of where he is, since he is rarely off the stage the entire two hours of this play.
If you are ever considering going to a play that you have never seen before and have some doubts, if it is directed by Del Austin, by all means go. Mr. Austin has only directed about a dozen plays in the past 16 years since his debut with Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune with Jacksonville Actor’s Theatre, but they have all been winners. He selects his shows carefully and definitely knows the art of directing. A very talented and in-demand actor as well, Del still finds time to produce an online theatre newsletter entitled “OnStage this Month.” Austin also designed the interesting set and Randall Adkison created the lighting design that isolated the different areas of the stage to create the many quick scenes. Locales even included Africa.
Merrylin Opendo makes her ABET debut as stage manager, skillfully handled the many and unique entrances and exits of the actors. Tracey Gallagher and Margaret Hennessey co-ordinate the costumes with special emphasis on the interesting attire for the two leading ladies in the play.
The full house audience on opening night loved this show. It is has adult language and content, so leave the children at home. If you are a true student of theatre, you don’t want miss taking The Ride Down Mt. Morgan. If fine acting and an excellent script is your cup of tea, than drink up, this play and production has both. All performances are at the Adele Grage Cultural Center in Atlantic Beach, through February 2nd. Call (904) 249-7177 for reservations.
|
