A Lie Of The Mind
This brilliant play and wonderful production ends this weekend of December 19th 2009. I urge all serious theatre goes not to miss the opportunity to see theatre at this very high level in all aspects. The play itself is an intricate mix of realism, surrealism, poetry and lyricism. Love gone amuck; love betraying itself, impossible love; grasping and never received, never recognized for what it is; love leaving desperate wounds that cannot heal erupting in savage brutality, or retreated from in imbecilic indifference. All this played out by the most interesting of characters, home grown, western, raw and vital. It is a terrific play illuminating the most wounded hearts.
Studio Five Productions, in its inaugural effort, has created a super three hour long evening. Director, John Lang has assembled an outstanding cast: Jake, (Lance Kramer) believing his wife is dead from a beating he has given her, is taken home by his more sensitive, soul searching brother, (subtle Logan Fahey) where Mama, (remarkable Casey Kramer) babies and smoothers him in her efforts to bring about his recovery. Sister (Maury Morgan) reveals the underlying tragedy of this family and her brother’s boarder line insanity; truths, at first viciously denied by Mother, but then leading to new perspectives which instigate a new life. The brain damaged wife (Natalie Avital) is also cared for by her brother (excellent PJ Marshall) who ultimately seeks revenge as well as affirmation from his distant father (terrific John Combs) who remain deaf to his son’s needs as well as his daughters. The father’s wife, (Jennifer Toffel) is terrific.
The set, mounted junk, couldn’t be better. Hopefully the theatre can soon invest in more comfortable seats.