Hartford Stage, Hartford, CT
through April 28, 2013
by Jarice Hanson
Beth Henley writes great scripts for strong women. That
reason alone, was impetus to see
"Abundance" at Hartford Stage. The premise is promising. Two
mail-order brides travel to Wyoming in the 1860's and strike up a friendship
that ultimately withstands husbands, famine, homesteading, the coming of the
railroad, Indians, anniversaries, successes and failures. Billed as “wickedly
funny and deeply touching” the dialog is strong and the actors infuse their
characters with energy, but the play lumbers along. The laugh lines are clever,
but the play is anything but a comedy.
The female leads, Bess (Monique Vukovic) and Macon (Brenda
Withers), are talented actors who work well together, but though their their
characters' 25-year friendship is challenged by extraordinary events, it’s hard
to see the emotional turmoil between them as their lives unfold. The actors
playing their husbands -- the sadistic Jack (James Knight) and the good, but
dim William (Kevin Kelly) -- are also fine actors, but the roles are stereotypical
and it’s unclear what makes each man change over the years.
Tracy Christensen’s costumes are perfect, and Philip S.
Rosenberg’s lighting design are standout contributions to creating mood. The
large playing space and the spare set reinforce the wide open spaces of the
west, but director Jenn Thompson uses the revolving stage far more than
necessary and she often blocks her actors to speak upstage, for no real reason.
Wilson Chin’s scenic design is highly representative, but the actors are
directed to break walls and violate the audience’s sense of space. It is
questionable whether Henley’s script calls for the Shaker hymn, “Simple Gifts,”
or whether the sound designer or the director chose this music to signal time
passage, but the tune seems inappropriate and overused.
The production has potential to grow throughout the run, but
unfortunately at this point, "Abundance" leaves this reviewer
unfulfilled.
