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A CurtainUp Review
Witnessed by the World
By Tyler Plosia
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"I'm going to be to the Kennedy years what
Bob Woodward was to Watergate."
— Joan
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Charlotte Maier (Photo by Douglas Denoff)
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It's hard not try and give a production like Witnessed by the World the benefit of the doubt. An ambitious piece, it's obviously an idea-driven narrative, and it hits its story points the way it should (or the way most of us unconsciously expect it to, anyway). But the acting is demonstrative to the point of distraction, and that's just one aspect of a generally overzealous production.
Witnessed. . . is about Joan Ross (played by Charlotte Maier), an intrepid reporter archetype who has become obsessed with exposing the truth about Jack Ruby and the Kennedy assassinations a half century after they happened. Her primary source for Ruby information is Eileen Kaminsky, Ruby's aging sister, a character uneager to reveal information but desperate for someone to talk with.
Eileen as played by Lois Markle, is the play's best performed role. The first time Markle gets on stage, it's for a long, snail-paced, dragged-out scene, but there isn't a moment of silence that doesn't gather meaning from the words that surround it. Though there isn't the strongest sense of chemistry between the two actresses, Markle is nevertheless a strong emotional presence who holds our attention. Bob Ari also shines in his brief appearances as Aaron, a character who is unfortunately boiled down to such a device-like existence that Ari's talents are almost completely wasted.
There are formal elements in the production worth mentioning, such as an inventive use of lighting design. In the darkness of the scene changes, a green-yellow hologram (in the visual vein of a full-stage Lite-Brite blueprint) of the next scenes setting is projected onto the set. Thus, instead of there being the physical facade of Eileens home exterior hauled onstage, we're shown momentary light outlines just before a scene starts. It's as if the images of the scenes can only be witnessed for a second— somewhat like staring at the sun and hoping that after you blink the residual outlines stay with you.
It's not that Witnessed by the World is without positive elements, it just doesn't come close to reaching its potential. The continuing mystery, paranoia and intrigue surrounding the John F. Kennedy assassination here ends in the most predictable way it possible. This predictability could be used effectively in a play that was reflexive and playful about its story tropes. Unfortunately, Witnessed. . . merely takes aim at familiar, worn-out targets.
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Witnessed by the World By Ronnie Cohen and Jane Beale Directed by Karen Carpenter Cast: Charlotte Maier (Joan Ross), Bob Ari (Aaron Spencer), Lois Markle (Eileen Kaminsky), Max Gordon Moore (Ira Basil), Joe Tapper (Joe Capano) Costume Desinger: Martin T. Lopez Lighting Designer: Corey Pattak Original Music/Sound Design: Lindsay Jones Scenic Designer: Libby Stadstad Props Master: Renny Cullen Stage Manager: Jana Lynn Running Time: 90 minutes without intermission 59E59, 59 East 59th Street, New York, NY From 11/9/13; opening 11/20/13; closing 12/15/13 Tickets: $49 Reviewed by Tyler Plosia based on performance November 15th, 2013 |
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