By Kristin Perkins
The set is the first thing you see entering the beautiful historic building that houses the Echo Theatre to see Evening Eucalyptus, Mahonri Stewart’s newest play, set in Australia. The stage design (Jason Sullivan) is intriguing, evocative and hints at the journey that is to come. It is cleverly constructed and it suggests the layout of a worn down porch, a small tree and the hint of a house without feeling like it is necessary to be obvious. The colors are expressive of the Australian landscape and of a house with a history. The effectiveness of the set ends up being key to the success of the play since the setting itself becomes a character impacting the movement of the play in real ways. The lights grow dim, actors move into the space, the story begins.
It is a story that operates around that idea of place and belonging. Arthur Stevenson (David Lasseter) returns to the land of his birth from England to try and find new meaning after a traumatic experience. Arthur meets Abigail (Anna Hargadon), whom he hires to help around his house, but as they fall in love he is tormented by his past. His memories become intensified when an old Aboriginal friend, Pindari (Robert Burch), comes into his life. Meanwhile, two “swag men” named Zeek (Stephen Geis) and Jody (Bryn Dalton Randall ) arrive purportedly to dig out some eucalyptus stumps and end up causing more harm than help. This is a new script written by Mahonri Stewart and it does a good job of weaving together several story lines with a sense of magic. While the dialogue sometimes becomes stilted or on-the-nose, the last lines of the play linger in the mind long after curtain call.
The acting proved to be solid throughout. David Lasseter plays the protagonist and he capably handles the enigmatic mood changes of Arthur. Anna Hargadon as the tough but feminine Abigail Baker, matches his performance with her own energy. She is a joy to watch when she is onstage–a refreshingly honest character. Robert Burch’s, Pindari, the Aboriginal man, is filled with wisdom and magic. I enjoyed his character so much that I was especially disappointed when I couldn’t hear what he was saying some of the time. Bryn Dalton Randall’s performance of Jody manages to be both alternatively heartbreaking and hilarious and Neal Hooper as the Trooper does a good job of physicalizing the several characters he plays.
However, for me, Stephen Geis’ amoral conman Zeek was the scene-stealer. Geis brings an intensity and commitment to a disturbing role but also gives the audience glimpses into the torn psyche of his character, making him feel relatable like all the best villains are. During the last few scenes, Zeek’s quiet and barely-contained energy drives the plot forward into the inevitable fight, expertly choreographed by Adam Argyle.
As far as the technical elements go, while the set was superb, the lighting design was lacking. I applaud Mandy Lyons for creating a very complicated light design, and in certain scenes the use of dramatic lighting helped build the tension. Sometimes though, the flashing colored lights were distracting and the transitions between scenes was often jarring.
All the other technical elements were handled by Mahonri Stewart as director, playwright and also in charge of costumes, props and sound. The costumes and props helped establish the period. The night I went, the sound was having issues that made it difficult to hear. Hopefully, they can sort this problem out because the way music is incorporated to help the audience follow the transitions between reality and the fantastical is important. The direction left an occasional scene dragging in pace but finishes strong with an exciting climax and compelling resolution.
There is a lot to recommend Evening Eucalyptus for a night of thought-provoking entertainment. Who knows? Perhaps the magic of theatre can combine with the magic of the story and transform your world for an evening. It doesn’t have a long run, so make sure to check it out soon!
Evening Eucalyptus, Zion Theatre Company play premiere
Friday Saturday, Money, November 7-9, 14-15 at 7:30 PM. Saturday matinees, 2 PM.
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The Echo Theatre, 15 N. 100 E., Provo
Tickets: $14. Students and seniors, $12.
Info: (801) 358-6623
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