Night Sky
Scene from San Diego Theatre's Production
Photo by Nick Abadilla
Susan Yankowitz:
Official Site
Imperial Theatre:
Official Site
Night Sky: Thought Provoking Production from Theatre Sarnia
by Brian Hay
Charmaine Jacklin’s performance is amazing. She’s strong from her first moment on stage when she presents the character of ‘Anna’ as she was before an ill wind of fate changed her life and incredible from the instant the incident occurs. She manages to capture all aspects of the woman’s state. She makes the depths of the woman’s frustration painfully obvious. But she also presents the character’s acceptance of her state and her knowledge that she has to move ahead from within the state in which she’s found herself. Through it all she never loses the character.
The rest of the cast is just as strong. Richard Teskey is exceptional as a man at odds with ‘Anna’ in both her states and with himself. His character is rife with strength and weaknesses and he’s at ease portraying the man’s emotional spectrum. He’s also very good in the musical aspects of the role. Hearing him sing again — he was cast as the baker in ‘Into the Woods’ — only made me wish for more. Randi DLavigne is excellent as ‘Anna’s’ daughter ‘Jennifer’. Her timing was very good and she was always at ease with the material. John L’Heureux had the complex task of making his character serve as both narrator and part of the emotional fabric of the piece and he did it nicely. His narration was warm and inviting. His fear of having face the fallen state his once brilliant colleague is palpable. His sense of awkwardness on realizing her brilliance still lies behind the jumbled state of her communicative powers is something to see. Doug Murphy portrays a character whose condition serves as a mirror for that of ‘Anna’ and he does it well. He never loses the sense of his character. When the man’s jumbled speech becomes lucid enough to make sense it’s believable. When it sounds like gibberish it fits equally well. Holly Wenning-Mayea is solid in a wide spectrum of small roles. Her role(s) demand that she be equal parts of many things. Her ‘Speech Therapist' is compassionate and warm. She’s also and ultimately, more patient than not. Her ‘Saleslady’ is patronizing and snobbish. The other characters she portrays demand an array of facades and she pulls it off with a sense of ease. She and (Charmaine) Jacklin also share one of the funniest moments of the play and they run with it.
Director Henri Canino Did an excellent job of keeping the production running smoothly. The viginettes have enough space between them to reflect the chaotic state of ‘Anna’s’ communicative powers but also run fluidly enough to keep a sense of structure in place. Her set designs are minimalist but they serve the production well. Placing the lettering that struggles to make sense on some of the props was a nice a nice touch. The mult-media presentation by her and Frank Canino offset the barren nature of the set and brought a sense of there being a larger ‘whole’ to the production. The lighting design by Richard Pore led the eye through the action well. The warm tones that he used reinforced the undercurrent of compassion shared by the characters. The operators, Joe Agocs and Paul Richardson, did a good job of ‘leading the moods’ by anticipating the cues and staying just slightly ahead of them.
The play by Susan Yankowitz isn’t an easy one to approach. The subject matter isn’t easy to face and the material is deeply serious. But (Susan) Yankowitz handled it well. Her treatment of it is warm, witty, and, at turns very funny. She shows despair and frustration and then seamlessly melds them into rays of warmth and hope. The viginettes that initially seem disjointed come together as an almost seamless and completely comprehensive whole. The result isn’t an easy form an entertainment but it is a rewarding one.
The cast and crew of Theatre Sarnia took a difficult piece and handled it well. Their production of ‘Night Sky’ is one that’s warm, funny and thought provoking. This production may be the company’s entry for adjudication. If so it’s a good choice. Whether it goes up for adjudication or not going to see it is a “night out” that’s well spent.
Theatre Sarnia’s production of ‘Night Sky’ by Susan Yankowitz runs at the Imperial Theatre from Friday, February 6 through February 8, 2009 and again from February 11 through to February 14, 2009. This reviews covers the performance that took place on February 7, 2009.
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