Three old men living in a veterans’ retirement home plot an escape to what French playwright Gerald Sibleyras called “Le Vent des Peupliers”or “The Wind of the Poplars.” So why has Tom Stoppard termed the men “Heroes”?
Joseph Parra’s significantly shy Henri, “safely” resident for 25 years, goes for brief walks outside the gates to look at passers-by and recently, especially, a local schoolgirl. He relies on a cane as a weapon against complete isolation. Alan Kitty, beguiling as still handsome Philippe, passes out frequently due to shrapnel still in his head. He’s certain that the in-charge Sister Madeleine wants to replace him in his annual (for 10 years) birthday celebration.
Gustave (powerful Peter Thomasson), a well-born curmudgeon and newest resident, dislikes others despite his much-honored military defenses of them. He’s spent most of six months in his room but has deigned to join the other two on a terrace they regard as private and theirs to defend. Gustave also relates to the stone dog there as his friend and guard, which is aristocratic – unlike the wife who left him.
Henri would rather relate -- but does so only mentally -- to young girls. Philippe thinks the dog sometimes moves, like the woman in his recurring wartime dream. Sex is a topic of memory and humorous speculation.
As Stoppard named them, the men are not only heroes in the sense of protagonists of a drama, the central figures we’re meant to follow and sympathize with. They showed great strength and courage in war. They come on not in a heroic age but rather as prisoners of the war of old age and, buoyed by Gustave, actually plot against it and its inevitable end. They decide to escape to an area they see from their terrace; it’s on a hill past the cemetery.
At the home, Henri dislikes complete silence, and Philippe has missed music. Philippe recalls he’d been a pianist and talks of the wind in poplars on the hill. Pyramidal ones stand straight together as if forming barriers and can make musical sound. (Such poplars originated in the Orient.) Not strange, then, that Gustave decides they should go on to French Indo-China. He loves the culture, Philippe will escape the nun, and Henri can find a real woman who’ll be at his command.
Preparation for the escape occupies the running action that actually fumbles, even limps, but is quite funny. Everything, including the unheroic, gets logged, except a death. No, not of the dog but . . . And what can a flying formation of birds over home and hill inspire? In the face of “night”, heroics anew?
Director Dan Higgs gets perfect performances from all three actors, with pacing that never lets up yet never rushes them. They wear with dignity Ross Boehringer’s suits with vests, white shirts, ties and no-fad shoes as if uniforms. The set, furnishings, and lighting provide the play’s right environment. Heroes is the Banyan’s 2013 midsummer’s dream.
Previews:
July 18, 2013
Ended:
August 4, 2013
Country:
USA
State:
Florida
City:
Sarasota
Company/Producers:
Banyan Theater Company
Theater Type:
regional
Theater:
Florida State University Center for the Performing Arts - Cook Theater
Theater Address:
5555 North Tamiami Trail
Phone:
941-351-2808
Website:
banyantheatercompany.com
Running Time:
90 min
Genre:
Comedy
Director:
Dan Higgs
Review:
Cast:
Joseph Parra, Peter Thomasson, Alan Kitty
Technical:
Set: Chris McVicker; Lighting: Michael Pasquini; Costumes: Ross Boehringer; Sound: Steve Lemke; Tech. Dir: Shane Streight; Production Stage Mgr: Jon Merlyn
Critic:
Marie J. Kilker
Date Reviewed:
July 2013
