THEATRE REVIEW
Eleemosynary Spells a Journey for Three Women at ESP
By Michael Birchenall
Weekender Theater Critic
Weekender, The Herndon Times
Times Community Newspapers (Link
to Article)
Wednesday, April 3, 2002
-
Photo courtesy of Bill Shaffer
GENERATIONS: From left, Linda High, Janice Creneti and Tara Leigh Moore play
three generations of women struggling for independence and respect in
"Eleemosynary," presented by the Elden Street Players.
Elden Street Players' (ESP) current main stage production of Eleemosynary by
Lee Blessing tells the story of three generations of Wesbrook women--the
matriarch Dorothea (Linda Hill), her daughter Artie (Janice Creneti) and her
daughter Echo (Tara Leigh Moore).
Simple enough for a start, but when spelling bee words like eleemosynary,
limicolous (dwelling in mud), esurient (hungry), and quiddity (essence or
essential quality of a thing) are mixed in early, the complexity of the play is
unveiled in this captivating and lyrical engaging of the ear and mind.
Under the direction of William Aitken, the minimalistic play is carefully
framed within a bare, undulating set designed by the director. Co-lighting
designers Jeff Boatright and Les Zidel have given us seamless lighting that acts
as an unobtrusive, but crucial accent to the play's storytelling. Even more
critical to Eleemosynary is the sound design of Aitken--the dialogue flows
perfectly from the three characters as they travel the breadth of the set
through their lives.
It's Dorothea who describes herself as eccentric - a word that easily fits
all three. Dorothea had her life crafted for her in a time when women struggled
to make their own statement in the world - outside of the acceptable
family/motherhood role. She made the decision to embrace eccentricity to claim
her denied independence--and carried it into her parenting of daughter Artie.
Dorothea, through Artie, in one scene attempts to prove her theory of flying,
"Today I am going to prove that man--or, in this case, woman--can fly
without the aid of any motor of any kind . using only the simple pair of wings
you see my daughter, Artie, wearing here."
It's one in a series of events that drives her daughter into a world of
science and measurable reality. But, it is Artie who is then unequipped with
skills needed to raise her own daughter Echo. She gives her up to Dorothea to
raise. Echo grows up seeking her own identity in the middle of this
dysfunctional family confusion. She escapes into her own narrow world by seeking
a moment of personal distinction by becoming the world's best speller - hence
the words like logodaedaly (playing with words) spew forth.
The play is series of episodes and flashbacks as the three women explain,
dissect and discover themselves in the one act play.
The strength of Aitken's interpretation is in the balanced acting skills of
the three women on stage. In a play with one act, a handful of props and a stark
set with only three actors - one weak link can destroy the play for the director
and the audience. Linda High (Dorothea), Janice Creneti (Artie), and Tara Leigh
Moore (Echo) are all competent actors who complement each other on the stage.
High is appropriately outspoken and quirky in her Dorothea. Creneti is
convincing as the daughter finding security in science, but unfulfilled and left
empty as a mother. Moore cuts the sharpest edge on stage - giving the audience a
flawless performance as she rolled off the difficult uncommon words while
crafting with fresh enthusiasm her character into a convincing, somewhat sad
sensitive young woman.
In the end Lessing wants to leave the audience with three women embracing the
definition of eleemosynary - charitable; the giving of alms. That is a bit of a
stretch in my mind, but it's a journey worth visiting as you hear the words,
listen to the story and spell the ending in your own clamjamfry or fogdog.
Eleemosynary
WHERE: Elden Street Players, The Industrial Strength Theatre, 269 Sunset Park
Drive, Herndon
WHEN: Performances: April 6, 7, 12, 13
CURTAIN: 8 p.m.
TICKETS: $12 adults, $10 seniors, students
INFORMATION/RESERVATIONS: 703-481-5930
WEB: www.eldenstreetplayers.org
ŠArcom Publishing Inc. - Reston/Herndon 2002
