Show II Brilliant Dancing at Pioneer Theater Company By JoSelle Contributing Writer Periodically ly in the hodge bodge podge of ofF F Twentieth Century theater an outstanding outstanding outstanding out out- standing vibrant and long-living long play is created Brian Friels Friel's Tony Award- Award winning play Dancing at is such a work Often as funny as it is sad and earthy as it jt is spiritual Dancing at is truly a remarkable piece of theater During the seven year old Michael lived with his aunts and mother in the small village of Ireland The play actually begins several years after his childhood childhood childhood child child- hood as Michael recalls and comments comments comments com com- ments on events that shaped his family's family's family's lys ly's lives during the summer harvest festival of pronounced suh nuh Through Michaels Michael's recollections Friel paints a touching human portrait about the lives of women in Ireland Max Robinson gives a solid performance performance per per- as Michael the plays play's adult narrator Although his year seven-year-old character is little more than a voice Robinson manages to present him as asan asan asan an stage on-stage presence When narrating as the adult Michael Robinsons Robinson's true t como c into into play p y At t these ert es his his his' passionate rendition of Friels Friel's Friels Friel's soliloquies is both stunning and ing mg Incredible performances on all levels levels levels lev lev- els are given by the actresses who portray portray portray por por- tray Michaels Michael's mother and aunts The sisters are all strong individuals who skillfully play playoff off each others other's strengths and weaknesses While all deliver equally equal y good performances the three most prominent sisters are Chris Tara rara Falk Maggie Jo Twiss and Kate Giulia Falk is a strong yet highly vulnerable ble woman Everything from her walk to her calm gestures suggests outward r. r r R w rp y T 4 w S n py pys s ANY S P Y 9 r o of c LI LIa t a pR Aw 0 Photo courtesy of Pioneer Theatre Company Giulia Richard Mathews Brenda Foley Tara Falk Joyce Cohen strength but an inward passion shared by her sister Her scenes with her onetime onetime onetime one one- time lover Gerry Patrick Boll are filled with this same passion At these times she loses her commanding reserve and show us her loneliness and anxiety over the future and that of her child Twiss and are solid contrasts contrasts contrasts con con- to each other While Maggie is earthy and and humored good Kate Kate is acetic and ill The twos two's struggle for control in their household is simultaneously funny and touching to behold Although very different both women still need each other for comfort and support in a world that is often very hard on them This fine cast also Joyce Cohen and Brenda Foley in strong performances as the sister Agnes and andRose andRose andRose Rose Richard Mathews as a sensitive Father Jack and Patrick Boll as Gerry Michaels Michael's shallow yet loveable father Friels Friel's rustic characters are further complimented by Peter Harrisons Harrison's rustic set Combining rocks straw and the backdrop of a cloudy sky the set perfectly reflects the beautiful and tempestuous aspects of the Irish coun coun- Peter L. L lighting adds a further emotional dimension Similarly some of the most beautiful beautiful beautiful ful moments of Dancing at occur when no characters are speaking During act one with the crackly music of the family Marconi as th the only at d accompaniment t the sisters J erupt in a wordless wordless dance As As s they twirl and laugh they tell the audience t. t W it h ryr pt 9 Y e fb q t i 4 ay A y yv v t f y T 4 Photo courtesy of Pioneer Theatre Company Giulia Tara Falk Joyce Cohen Brenda Foley more about themselves than words could convey Their short but beautiful dance reflects lively and free personalities personal personal- that the women often stifle when they speak This is only one example of Friels Friel's use of a metaphor Throughout the play dance and other t wordless forms of communication n are shown and celebrated Dancing at is one of the most powerful pieces of drama Pioneer Theater Company has produced produced produced pro pro- this year I highly recommend it to all lovers of dance and drama as aswell aswell w well lJ as those looking for a different kind of theatrical eXPer experience en e. e A versatile versatile versatile versa versa- tile cast remarkable set and dyna dynamic ic script make Dancing Dan ing at one of Pioneers Pioneer's best productions this season |