New Century Theatre, Northampton, MA
through July 25, 2015
by Konrad Rogowski
New Century Theatre's production of "Luna Gale" is
engaging because of a strong script, strong acting, and a title character, who
the audience never actually gets to see.
The Rebecca Gilman play, directed by Gina Kaufmann, is a
firestorm of planning and plotting by a group of adults, each with his or her
own best intended solution, as to who should be the guardian of baby Luna Gale,
the daughter of two young, inexperienced, and addicted parents. Enter the
social worker, the grandmother, the pastor, and the child protection
administrator, each with not only a plan to 'save' Luna, but each with an
agenda that taints those best intentions, and raises the suspicions of the
others vying for the infant.
The cast does a fine job making their characters credible as
motivated, yet flawed, individuals who in some instances teeter on the edge of
moral and/or ethical failure. Of particular note are the performances of Cate Damon and Sue Dziura as the social worker and grandmother, respectively.
The action and plotting are quick, and nicely helped in their pace by Daniel D.
Rist's multiple site set, that moves from office to home and on to a waiting
room or nursery. "Luna Gale" is one of those plays that is worth
seeing because it mandates that its audience think and evaluate, oftentimes in
an uneasy manner. What really is best for baby Luna Gale?