I slunk into the Theater at Russell Hall at 7:31, just in time to take stock of the opening tableau: country music, a large man in a Stetson and overalls. When the first character opened his mouth, affecting a Southwestern accent, it became apparent: I was watching a play about poor white people. This is fraught territory to say the least.
The cast is strong. Senior Theatre major Charlie Parker Newton is the highlight as Eddie, the male lead. He cuts an imposing figure, perfectly coiffed and mutton chopped in accordance with rural late-70s, early 80s fashion, stalking from one end of the stage to the other with a blend of dark humor and menace. Senior theatre major Audra Anne Curtis has a good stage presence as May, Eddie’s half-sister and on-again, off-again lover.
Yet, somehow, I wanted more from both of them. But, as closely as I looked, I didn’t find any evidence which could force me to ascribe blame the actor or the director.
I found myself listening to the text, and thought it florid, stagey and dull. It didn’t ring true. It struck me as a clumsy, self conscious attempt to channel Tennessee Williams or Steinbeck, without bringing anything new to the table. This was not a good play. What was this mediocre, amateurish nonsense?
It’s Sam Shepard’s “Fool For Love”. Oh dear. Really? REALLY?
This raises so many questions, not the least of which is “Why haven’t I read this play?”
“Fool For Love” is considered a seminal work of late 20th century American theatre. I have no doubt hundreds of critics and drama teachers have praised it for its grit. And here I am, a babe in the woods, assuming it’s the work of some local hack pseudo dramatist that our intrepid USM actors have to struggle boldly against in order to deliver a halfway decent theatre experience. And it’s Sam Shepard’s “Fool For Love”. Oh dear.
This whole experience enforced a couple of points that I often dwell upon. The first is that I’m a complete ignoramus when it comes to the theatre. Given.
However, there’s a second point that’s equally true and perhaps more salient. The “art” experience is almost never objective. One’s opinion of any given work of art in any media is heavily colored by popular opinion, which, in turn, is often colored by insecurity; the fear of looking like an idiot in the face of “expert” opinion.
Ladies and Gentleman: It is the prerogative of the fool to speak the truth: Sam Shepard’s “Fool For Love” is a frustrating near miss: an overwrought, tiresome, ultimately safe entry in an already bloated theatrical canon. But the USM Theatre Department makes it work.
“Fool For Love” is playing Oct 3-12 at USM’s Russell Hall in Gorham.