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Sunday, Mar 21, 2010
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The tide is high and I'm happily holdin' on |
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| The tide is high and I'm happily holdin' on | |
| by Miryam Gordon -
SGN A&E Writer The Highest Tide Adapted and directed by Jane Jones From the book by James Lynch Book-It Repertory Theatre Through May 10 A Puget Sound tween-ager has the summer of his life. That's the short version. The Highest Tide is a character-driven play about a 13 year old boy from the tide flats near Olympia who bemoans the fact that he's still way too short and he gets condescended to by everyone. The adaptation, by Jane Jones (also co-artistic director and director of the production), changes the voice of the novel from a grown man looking back in time to the authentic 13 year old, as the center of the action. This role, of Miles O'Malley, is the King Lear of roles for a 13-year-old. The character of Miles is in almost every scene during the entire two-hour production and the dialogue or occasional monologues range between slangy expression and poetic description. A humongous role to pull off, even for the most experienced of actors, yet a young teen is called for in the role. The amazing Kellan Larson pulls off this high-wire act of theatricality with precision, empathy and enthusiasm. He has just turned 14 and has not yet had his growth spurt, so he fits the description perfectly. Fitting the description would hardly be enough for this play, though. Miles is called on to reveal deep inner confusions and worries about life in the most intimate way. Miles speaks directly to the audience, often, during these intimate moments. There's no way for an actor to hide behind the pretend curtain by telling himself that he's really alone, so it's safe to reveal these feelings. He has to express it all directly to the audience. Larson has everything the role could ask for and so, this production is a triumph. There is a very large ensemble supporting Miles, as he discovers outrageous sea creatures washing up on the beach and television news reporter start showing up to document his unique finds. His teen "frenemy," Kenny Phelps, ably (which means obnoxiously) played by Hunter Larsen, tries to steal Miles' thunder. The conflicted, divorce-headed parents are nicely intertwined by Gordon Carpenter and Shelley Reynolds. Leticia Jaramillo is outstanding as Miles' best friend, an old psychic he tries to care for as she sinks further into illness. She is note-perfect in both her portrayal of illness and the wry stubbornness that keeps her from going to a "home." I could probably watch her read the phone book and be mesmerized. The rest of the large cast creates neighbors, scientists, cult members (you'll understand when you see it), and news staff. Sylvie Davidson plays the babysitter/next-door neighbor that Miles is obsessed with. Angie is a singer and a disintegrating teenager, herself. Davidson sings a bit and shows a fantastic voice, but her character of Angie seems like it's from a different play. I don't know if she's given a very strange wig to wear or if it's her own hair, but the 'do is very distracting. One of the funnier bits in the play is a visit Miles pays to a cult leader's headquarters where the followers respond to the slightest movement of the leader, played flamboyantly by Theresa Holmes. Sylvie, Theresa, Eric Ray Anderson, and John Patrick Lowrie also play instruments, as well as roles, under the musical direction of composer Theresa Holmes. The music is effective and complementary and subtle. The fact that it's live makes it more special. Set designer, Curtis Taylor, creates great versatility of space for many different kinds of scenes, from interiors to varying exteriors. His "area spaces" of focus for pieces of action are effective and anchoring without being cluttered. Costumes by Christine Meyers are suitable and unnoticeable, except when the troupe of cult members enters, where the costumes amuse. The adaptation might have benefited from a workshop process to hone the script a bit, but all of Book-It's plays are world-premiere adaptations and don't have that advantage. Each of their efforts is sharp, intelligent and true to the book, and this production is no exception. For more information, go to www.book-it.org orcall 206-216-0833. Comments on reviews go to sgncritic@gmail.com |
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