By Ben Watson
What’s it like to experience Plan-B Theatre’s An Evening With Two Awful Men playing at Salt Lake City’s venerable Rose Wagner Center? Imagine yourself as part of a live studio audience for a meta-reality show where a couple of famous (infamous) dead historical figures must defend their actions, and you have a good sense of this World Premiere original work by local reporter-turned-playwright Elaine Jarvik. Audience participation is encouraged as a part of this slightly skewed social comedy. Regardless of politics, race, or background, there is much to contemplate in this smart and funny production.
The show opens on a darkened reality show set, with host Emilie (Emilie Starr) busy checking with the audience and unseen production crew. Once her first guest, President James Buchanan (Jason Bowcutt) arrives, we know that this reality show is out of this world. The next guest, assassin John Wilkes Booth (Aaron Adams) makes a dramatic entrance befitting his reputation as a flamboyant actor and activist. The final character to materialize is an unexpected Harriet Tubman (Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin), who plays antagonist and foil to Buchanan and Booth. Host Emilie now must navigate and wrangle the defensive posturing from both president and assassin in response to hard critique of their historical legacies. Harriet and Emilie don’t pull punches, and neither does this fast-paced, witty, and culturally introspective show.
What’s it like to experience Plan-B Theatre’s An Evening With Two Awful Men playing at Salt Lake City’s venerable Rose Wagner Center? Imagine yourself as part of a live studio audience for a meta-reality show where a couple of famous (infamous) dead historical figures must defend their actions, and you have a good sense of this World Premiere original work by local reporter-turned-playwright Elaine Jarvik. Audience participation is encouraged as a part of this slightly skewed social comedy. Regardless of politics, race, or background, there is much to contemplate in this smart and funny production.
Starr’s Emilie is charming, poised, and resourceful. Her believability as host comes perhaps from her experience as host of BYU TV’s Random Acts, and she plays well against larger than life performances from Bowcutt and Adams. Adams particularly captures the hubris attributed to John Wilkes Booth. Darby-Duffin becomes the living embodiment of Harriet Tubman, and even manages to showcase her impressive vocal talent. This wonderful cast plays on a sparse but effective stage designed by Thomas George, lit by David Rees, and are directed by Cheryl Ann Cluff. Particularly effective is the pitch perfect costume design by K.L. Alberts.
An Evening With Two Awful Men continues its run February 21 through March 3 at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center Studio Theater, as a part of Plan-B Theatre Company’s 2018 – 2019 season.
Lovers of socially aware theater will be wise to quicken their step to catch this original gem. Note: It is sold out, but put yourself on the wait list. According to our sources, most everyone on the list ends up getting a seat.
Plan-B Theatre Company presents An Evening with Two Awful Men, by Elaine Jarvik
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 S., Salt Lake City, UT 84101
February 21 – March 3, 2019 8:00 PM Thur-Fri, Sat 4:00 PM, 8:00 PM, Sun matinee 2:00 PM
Tickets: $22
Contact: 801-297-4200
Plan B Theatre Facebook Page
Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin, Emilie Starr, Jason Bowcutt, Aaron Adams, Elaine Jarvik, Thomas George, David Rees, Cheryl Ann Cluff, Plan-B Theatre Company, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Plan-B Theatre, An Evening With Two Awful Men, Salt Lake City, BYU TV, Random Acts, Salt Lake City, Utah
Plan-B Theatre Company: https://www.facebook.com/planbtheatreco/
Reviewers Note: This is a show that will ask you to think about the context in which you view events of yesterday and today. To that end, it is intellectually challenging and funny at the same time. Well worth getting on the wait-list as soon as possible.
Ben Watson