'Amerigo' provokes thought

"AMERIGO," Plan-B Theatre Company, through April 18, Rose Wagner Center (801-355-2787); running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes (no intermission)

Two explorers — Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci — sit in purgatory. Both claim to have "discovered" America. To pass the time, they debate.

The moderator is philosopher and writer Niccolo Machiavelli. The jury is Mexican scholar, poet and nun Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.

And so begins Plan-B Theatre Company's "Amerigo," by Eric Samuelsen.

The four-person cast takes the empty stage, save for four chairs, and the "courtroom drama" begins to unfold.

Samuelsen's play is a fascinating look at a story most haven't visited since grade school. But it's the cast that makes the wordy script so vivid.

Kirt Bateman enters as Machiavelli. His wily observations, boyish energy and sly grins provide ample comedic relief. He wonderfully serves as moderator, both goading and sympathizing with the explorers, and he is thoroughly enjoyable to watch.

Sor Juana, played by Deena Marie Manzanares, offers the insight and opinion of the native people and is the voice of the women who were mistreated.

She handles the meaty role with a nice strength, necessary for going head-to-head with the formidable men, and she shows a genuine sorrow when she makes a painful discovery late in the play.

The two men in question are played by Matthew Ivan Bennett (Vespucci), and Mark Fossen (Columbus).

Vespucci sailed for the New World out of curiosity. His purpose was to "find things men want and sell it to them." Frequently offering the more light-hearted moments, Vespucci finds purgatory "boring!" and only wants to "make another deal."

Bennett nicely captures a witty, sly, often smarmy effect as he defends his position and actions.

Columbus, on the other hand, set sail to find the Garden of Eden, in hopes of bringing on the second coming. Fossen does a very nice job of showing disgust for Vespucci's opportunism, remorse for his treatment of the natives and humility in explaining the true purpose of his quest.

Samuelsen has crafted an interesting look at these characters who are often treated more as icons than humans. The interactions are engaging, sometimes funny and thought-provoking.

Jerry Rapier's direction keeps the dialogue-heavy play moving, and the end result will have you questioning what you may have learned in school, and perhaps also wondering how you'll be spending your time in the afterlife.

e-mail: ehansen@desnews.com