THE QUALITY OF LIFE at A.C.T.

THE QUALITY OF LIFE; Written and directed by Jane Anderson. American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.), 415 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

415.749.2228 or www.act-sf.org. September 25 through November 23, 2008

IT’S A CRUEL F------ WORLD

In the non-classical sense of the word, personal tragedy affects us in a multitude of ways. Some of the individual responses are acceptance, depression, anger, withdrawal and solace within organized religion. Astute, award winning dramatist Jane Anderson has ignored the maxim never to openly discuss political and religious tenets creating an interesting drama bringing together two diverse couples coping with devastating trauma. With this play she hopes, in her own words, “. . . to help the audience recognize that in the face of (a) dichotomy of ideals, there's the possibility of finding a common human connection." It is a noble attempt but does not capture the brass ring.

There are only four in the cast which forces the author to rely on lengthy dialog that expresses oft heard differences of opinion and documented verbal/intellectual conflict. Considering these obstacles, the superb staging (Donald Eastman), adept direction and thoroughly professional ensemble acting are in evidence. Three members from the world premiere 2007 production in Los Angeles, Dennis Boutsikaris (Neil), Laurie Metcalf (Jeannette) and JoBeth Williams (Dinah) repeat their roles and are joined by Stephen Culp (Bill). With a few notable glitches they inhabit the personae of their characters making one appreciate their differences while vying for audience acceptance.

We first meet Bill and Dinah, a Midwestern couple who are dealing with an unspecified tragedy that we later learn is the murder, one year ago, of their only daughter by a crazed man. Dinah convinces reluctant Bill to accompany her to visit a distant free spirited cousin Jeannette and her husband Neil who have been burned out of their home in the 1995 Mount Vision fire. Bill and Dinah arrive to find Neil and Jeannette living in a yurt with outdoor kitchen and plumbing surrounded by a burned out tree from which they have hung the charred remains of formerly precious belongings. They have learned, and accepted, that material things are of little importance since Neil is dying of cancer.

Bill has become a born-again Christian as a means of dealing with his deep depression and is appalled to learn Neil, in hospice mode, is giving up any further chemotherapy, uses marijuana to deal with his physical pain and plans to commit suicide in two weeks. They clash on intellectual grounds as Bill unsuccessfully attempts to convert Neil to “God’s will.” Further, Jeannette, afraid of a future of intense longing without Neil and the prospect of growing old and decrepit, plans to accompany Neil in suicide.

Contrary to what the previous paragraphs may suggest, there is a great deal of humor (maybe a bit too much) throughout the evening since Anderson is a successful writer for TV. There is a hilarious, heartwarming vignette when Dinah, for the first time, inhales marijuana. She has the most powerful scene in the play when Bill declaims that the fire that destroyed Jeannette and Neil’s home was just retribution by God. Dinah strikes out at Bill asking what did our daughter due to deserve her fate. Although the author professes to be even handed, Christianity gets the short end of the stick and the dual ending for the fate of each couple is unsatisfying. The real truism is reflected in the single line late in the play, “It’s a cruel f------ life!”

Running time 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission.

Courtesy of TheatreWorld Internet Magazine

www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com