“Silent Snow, Secret Snow”
This powerful drama is written by Lisa Tierney Keogh and
directed by Gemma Whelan (Founding Artistic Director of Corrib). It is playing at the New Expressive Works
space, 810 SE Belmont St., through February 24th. For more information, go to their site at www.corribtheatre.org
The above title is borrowed from a short story (and one-act
play) by Conrad Akien, in which a young boy gradually slips into his own
private world, surrounded by the peace and quite of snow. I was reminded of this story while watching
the play. The world now is a much more
complex place, brought about, in part, by the electronic jungle we so highly
treasured. Young people, in particular,
are highly susceptible to this alternate universe, in which one encounters
cyber-bullying, sex traffickers, gossip, “fake news,” deceptive advertising,
et. al., aimed to lead some young, maturing minds to slip into an abyss that,
without professional help, one may drown in.
This cyber-jungle is, I believe, a contributing factor in drawing people
into a “manufactured” world.
The causes of mental illness are as numerous as there are
people who have it. It is a disease
which can be treated. People dealing
with it should never be afraid to reach out to professionals. They should also never be stigmatized because
they are ill, admitting there may be a problem and communication it unashamedly
to loved ones is a key to recovery.
“What we have here is a failure to communicate!” should never be one’s
mantra. Sinking beneath the “snow,” one
may freeze, so look for the warming sunlight.
Jane (Alexandria Casteele) is a young girl who grew up on a
farm. Her best friend is Bob, the farm
dog (Jacklyn Maddux), who seems to understand her best. Bob is always there to comfort her, play
games, be told secrets to, and just hang around with. She has a brother but, in time, they grow
apart. She has a boyfriend but she also
distances herself from that relationship, too.
Even her father, Brendan (Ted Rooney), dearly loves her but is unable to
show it. The silence, “snow,” seems to
be closing in on her. How is this
isolation to end?!
I’ve only given you a snippet of this story because you
really need to see/hear it for yourselves.
The characters all talk past each other, narrating their tales but never
actually talking directly to each other, which shows the isolation of Jane and
her world. The setting is sparse, which
also gives the sense of being removed from the world which surrounds her. This sad tale builds slowly, overtaking the
senses, and graduates to an intensity which is gut-wrenching. You will also find yourself crying out to
her, “Stay!”
It is a tale the author obviously is
invested in, and in which director Whelan has thoroughly and accurately
presented. The cast is perfect for their
roles and Casteele is powerful in the lead.
She is eerily believable as a young girl trapped in unfamiliar surroundings,
perhaps, “a stranger in a strange land.”
I recommend this play.
If you do choose to see it, please tell them Dennis sent you.
--DJS
ReplyDeleteread this above post its very greatful for me thanks sharing this post ,great post.
visit our website