From Deseret News archives:

PTC's 'Real Thing' is a real success

Published: Thursday, March 18, 2004 2:39 p.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
THE REAL THING, Pioneer Theatre Company, Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, through April 3, 581-6961. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes (one intermission).

Maybe the Monkees' "I'm a Believer" had it wrong. Maybe love is only true in fairy tales.

Or maybe Tom Stoppard has it wrong in "The Real Thing." His protagonist, who just happens to be a playwright, says that carnal knowledge is always true; it's the real knowledge.

Certainly, Stoppard wants us to ponder this. Early on, his lovers know "the insularity of passion." Without insularity, without exclusivity, can their love even last until the end of Act II?

Stoppard gives us a dozen complicated questions to ponder in this play. For balance, he also gives us the simple lyrics from rock songs. And, with Charles Morey directing, the Pioneer Memorial production of this Tony-winning script challenges us and succeeds on several levels.

Story continues below
First, the actor who plays Henry, Paul DeBoy, is great. He makes the most of all the witty lines and banter he is given in this script. Second, the staging is nice. (Scenic design by James Wolk; costumes, Brenda Van der Weil; lights, Karl Haas; sound, Joe Payne.) The set is stark. A series of panels serve as walls and they rotate, and as the actors revolve on and off the stage, the audience is forced to think about the interchangeability of the lovers.

One difficulty: The other actors were all hard to hear at one point or another on opening night. Maybe it was the accents. Certainly these are accomplished actors, easily equal to the rich roles Stoppard has written.

Max Robinson plays a sadly innocent husband. Joyce Cohen is Charlotte, a woman who can take care of herself whether she is married or not. Jurian Hughes is Annie, who can't find the right words to say to the writer she loves.

Sensitivity rating: The subject is adultery. There is some swearing; also smoking onstage.


E-MAIL: susan@desnews.com

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

this ordinance does NOT give adherents freedom to "practice the beliefs of...

Study: Mentoring makes difference

Mentoring is a great way to have fun and feel like you are making a...

Crash kills Utah County man

It's nice to hear it's the dangerous driver who died for a change, instead of...

2A: Broncos vs. Wildcats

The site is sjhsports com for those that would like to listen to the game.

House passes health care bill

Apparently sarcasm doesn't bode well in print. Duh. i was being sarcastic too.

When he spoke to his disciples and said: paraphrasing, some are born eunuchs,...

Crash kills Utah County man

I commented earlier that one should obey the law and not cross the double...

Interesting that our President who is capable of reading so well what other's...

SLC council OKs gay rights policies

To the 1:59 commentator, In case you missed it, I support the law as...

Utah case: U.S.-Indian culture clash

Her mother is LDS. They don't believe in body piercings. Her father is Sikh....

Advertisements
Advertisement