OCR Text |
Show Play mixes comedy, pathos by RON VARELA Chronicle Staff The Human Ensemble Repertory Theater group rendered a sensitive interpretation of Kenneth Jenks' play, "The Gift of Utherena Fin-chum" Fin-chum" in Sunday night's performance. per-formance. In his play, Jenks uses the principle of similarity of comedy and pathos in eliciting audience reaction. The playwright skilfully lets both these emotions complement com-plement one another throughout his work, although the effect weakens in spots. In the use of comedy and pathos, "The Gift of Utherena Finchum" is similar to the "theater of the absurd," but Jenks' play defies inclusion in this category or, for that matter, any category which readily comes to mind. The play's action takes place by the shores of Utah's Bear Lake. Beside this new world version of the Sea of Galilee, two Welsh Mormon converts, Albertus Finchum Fin-chum and his daughter Utherena, have established themselves in their "New Land of Zion." Here, however, is where the "Promised Valley" effect ends. As Albertus climbs the ladder of the Church heirarchy, his daughter becomes romantically involved with Olaf, a reformed sea monster turned human, who makes his home in the depths of Bear Lake. However, this seemingly ludicrous situation is handled with an unexpected grace and precision by the author and actors alike. In fact, by the time this situation is complicated com-plicated by the introduction of an ex-bear into the plot, the audience is generally willing to accept even this development. The play's four actors conveyed their parts very well, and gave the work surprising depth, clarity and sensitivity, though none of the performances could be called ' unforgetable. Rodger Reynolds did a superb job as Albertus, sur-prisingly sur-prisingly sincere as an orthodox Mormon fanatic in a play in which ' conventional Mormon theories ' become the topic of comedy on all levels, from high-brow to slapstick. ' Though opinions vary widely among the audience about the play's quality, "The Gift of Utherena Finchum" is a work ' worthy of consideration. The .' Human Ensemble will present a ' performance Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ! in the group's fiendishly ' camouflaged third-floor theater in Arrow Press Square. |