'Red Badge' cast lacks passion

THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE; SCERA Center for the Arts; 745 S. State; closes Nov. 13 (225-2569); running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes (15 min. intermission).

OREM — Run for cover! The Blue and Gray are at in again, and this time you won't know where the bullets will land or if you'll have the courage to last the battle.

The SCERA Encore Season's presentation of "The Red Badge of Courage" is a stage adaptation of the poignant tale by Stephen Crane about young Henry Fleming's struggle with death, the war experience and his own "red" badge of courage.

With such subject matter as the Civil War, the fighting between friends and brothers, young men wanting to be heroes and old men dying, one would hope the presentation would be thought-provoking and leave the audience contemplative. Try as they might, though, the majority of this cast lacks passion for the story and leaves the audience wondering if it's time to applaud yet.

(It should be noted that a director change from visiting director Fred Baehr to Mindy B. Young was made approximately two weeks before opening. The switch may be a contributing factor.)

It was also dissatisfying to have a number of gunfights gun fights with the Gray, and, in the end, we only see one "'Johnny Reb'" on stage and that was the flag-bearer. No wonder the North won. War is heck!

Dillon Shepherd plays Fleming and does an admirable job. He does help the audience understand his character's dilemma and the story line's bigger picture. His interaction with his mother (Melissa Richards) adds to the story, and Richards does well in her roll.

That's about where it ends. So many members of the cast seem overly animated. They seem to be yelling their parts instead of presenting a heartfelt interpretation of their character. There is a difference in shouting lines and presenting them loudly — even when giving orders.

Other cast members include Donald Robinson (old man); Peter De Schweinitz (the lieutenant); Steve Watts (Jim Conklin); Russell Warne (Pete Wilson); T.J. Salmon (the Corporal); Jackson Holley (Simpson); Brian Randall (Tattered Man/Rogers); and Alex Pae (Daws).

Timing was slow as black-strap molasses onstage and between scenes, some of which have no set changes at all. The set is simple and the back lighting is used to make some lovely evening and night settings. However, there were glitches in the technical equipment that left the stage dark during some scenes — not to be confused with the night scenes around the campfire. They were fine and added ambience.

If you are compelled to see it, enjoy the story and the lessons learned. By sitting through it you may just receive your own badge of courage.

Sensitivity rating: Younger children will find this presentation boring. Beware of gunfire throughout the show and a few mild swear words.

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E-mail: pugmire@desnews.com