By Katherine Beeson
Village Playhouse opened its 37th One Act Festival last weekend. This festival showcases short plays by Wisconsin playwrights and provides a wonderful opportunity for writers to see their works on stage. This production runs through Aug. 21.
The three shows featured this year are very different and each is thought-provoking, yet sometimes not in the way the playwright may have intended.
Each actor in these three One Acts delivers a solid performance.
"Sing Me to Sleep" by Mike Willis involves Willie, (Paul Weir) a widowed man who recently put down his dog (the dog's ashes and a bowl of beer are lovingly placed in the yard of his country home). Willie is visited by his doctor (Morgan Gates), the son of family friends, who delivers bad news to Willie. The old man does not have long to live, and this information segues into a heartfelt discussion of why people humanely end the lives of dying animals when the same option is not readily available to them. Very touching production.
Amy Wickland, foreground, is confronted by an older version of herself, played by Karolyn Wolkos, in “Bubble in the Loop.”
The second play, "Bubble in the Loop," tells the story of a woman seated at a table who, after an explosion of lights, discovers that she is face to face with an older version of herself. They ultimately discuss time travel and who may have invented the time machine. The older woman, Natalie (Karolyn Wolkos), tells younger woman, Nat (Amy Wickland), about dreams she experienced featuring the son she never had. At this point, my mind wandered to questions about whether Nat could then change the future by having a child and other aspects of the present altering the known future. The play does not venture onto this path, but stays focused on the time machine. Either scenario might invite challenging post-show discussions.
The last play is "Family Affair," a story of a husband (Paul Weir), wife (Barbara Stigler), two teenage daughters, Quinn and Ellie (Grace Berendt and Abrielle Newman), and the ongoing troubles of dealing with Scott, the father's off-stage alcoholic brother. These four actors portray their struggling characters wonderfully.
There are a few problems with this script, however. This may have been a great first-draft, but there are many character/situation inconsistencies. For example, Quinn is away at college and avoids coming home due to her parents' constant fighting; yet later she questions her sister's desire to leave because Quinn has many pleasant memories there. (Wait -- what?) Also, we are told that the girls are dealing with fallout from their father's supporting their drunken uncle all their lives, yet the family wants to keep Scott's latest problem a secret from away-at-college, tough-cookie Quinn to "spare" her. The full reason as to why the father is constantly saving and protecting his brother before taking care of his wife and daughters is never fully explained other than to say his parents told him to do so. Little tweaks and attention to detail could have made this story much more powerful. However, this show does encourage conversations about family loyalty and obligations.
All in all, Village Playhouse delivers a great way to experience new theater.
The productions are at the Interchange Theater Co-Op (nice place with a bar) at 628 No. 10th St. Call 414-207-8749 for ticket information. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19 and 20, and 2 p.m. Aug. 21. Any writers may submit shows for consideration for future One Acts at info@villageplayhouse.org.
The group's next full production is "Dracula" by Steven Dietz, running Nov. 4 through 12.