Daryl Johnson, Phil Green, Howard Scott and Brennan Krieger in rehearsal for The Dining Room
The Island Players present: The Dining Room, by the American playwright A.P. Gurney, at The Trueblood Performing Arts Center (TPAC), on Washington Island, September 3rd and 4th, 2011.
The Dining Room, a comedy, takes place in a single dining room, around a single dining table, over several generations. Howard Scott, one of the actors in The Dining Room, says, “It’s a simple set that focuses on the dining table. The only constant is that room and that table. In a sense, the table is a character in the play, not just a prop.”
The Island Players present: The Dining Room, by the American playwright A.P. Gurney, at The Trueblood Performing Arts Center (TPAC), on Washington Island, September 3rd and 4th, 2011.
The Dining Room, a comedy, takes place in a single dining room, around a single dining table, over several generations. Howard Scott, one of the actors in The Dining Room, says, “It’s a simple set that focuses on the dining table. The only constant is that room and that table. In a sense, the table is a character in the play, not just a prop.”
Several of the actors stressed the great number of characters – more than the number of actors because each actor plays several roles – and the humor that happens in the dining room. “There is a lot of humor in this play. It gives everyone an opportunity to laugh at real-life, poignant family situations,” says Phil Green. Rylee Johnson agrees. “We still laugh at the funny parts during rehearsal!”
What’s it like for these actors to play several roles in one play instead of concentrating on creating only one character to present to the audience? Howard Scott says: “With any character you evolve a persona. And on this stage you have to shift quickly. You have to practice how to flip right into the new character.” How many characters does Scott play? Seven!
Carol Amadio is his equal. She, too, plays seven different characters. “I’m afraid that after this play I’m going to be suffering from multiple-personality disorder!” she exclaimed.
How will the audience be able to follow all these changes of character? “We’ll use some simple costume changes,” said Rylee Johnson. “There aren’t any major costume changes, but there will be some,” said Jeff Maiken, who is new to Island Players and who plays, among other parts, a father in one scene and a little boy in another.
Some of the actors don’t have to deal with great age differences of their characters. Terry Henkel, like all the actors, plays several roles, but his are all adults. “I play a psychiatrist, a self-made millionaire, a father, and an old man. I feel comfortable with all these characters. The people who have to work hardest have roles that span all ages.”
Because of the great number of characters, and because all the actors play between four and seven characters, there are no real lead actors in this play. That means that they all have a lot of work to do. “This is the most I’ve ever had to memorize!” said Terry Henkel.
Daryl Johnson, a veteran with Island Players both on stage and backstage, plays five roles. She said, “My husband helps me practice my cue lines!”
Carol Amadio, with her seven roles, commented, “Joyce is a really good director. She has a lot of short cuts and suggestions for memorizing. And the other actors are very good about helping people during rehearsals.”
There is also lot of action during a play that is backstage, hidden from the audience. Jim Young, John Chapman, Fritz Damler, Terry Henkel, Dave Ranney, and Howard Scott worked on set design and construction. The stage managers are Connie Essig and Sandy Green. Joan Kuhn, who is also producing the show, and Lois McDonald are serving as prompters.
Emmett Woods is taking care of lighting and sound. Steve Waldron is doing photography. Janet Engstrom, Connie Essig, Sandy Green, Jayn Maiken, Pat McCoy, Lucia Petrie, Mitzi Salemme, and Margaret Wedel worked on props. Jeanne Cauldwell, Ruth Kieffer, Mary McKay, and Judie Yamamoto are responsible for costumes. Jo Hagen and Patricia Hansen are doing makeup. Joyce Morehouse is the artistic director.
The Dining Room, written by A. R. Gurney and presented on Washington Island by Island Players, will be performed at the TPAC on Saturday and Sunday, September 3 and 4, at 7:30 both evenings. Advance tickets are now available at the Red Cup and the Rec Center: $12 for adults, $6 for students through high school. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.
by Mary Marik
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A comedy of manners, The Dining Room is set in – you’ve got it – a single dining room. In this dining room 18 scenes from different households overlap and intertwine, though taking place in different time periods, they presumably share the same room and dining room table. The stories feature White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) families, and while some scenes focus on the furniture itself and emotional attachments to it, others describe and investigate the culture of the WASPs. Ultimately The Dining Room tells the story of a fairly short-lived culture of upper-middle class Americans, and the transition to a more efficient society, which emphasizes tradition less and progress more. Though comedic in nature, a sincere longing for the sense of comfort, stability and togetherness that a culture provides is inherent throughout.
