San Diego is currently blessed with two plays by the Pulitzer-winning Lanford Wilson: Book of Days is at OnStage in Chula Vista, and Burn This is at Cygnet in East San Diego. The former chronicles events in the small Missouri town of Dublin, population just over 4,000. (Wilson, incidentally, was born in Lebanon, Missouri in 1934.)
Dublin has one industry — Walt Bates' cheese factory - thus making Walt (Tim Carr), at 60, the patriarch and his wife, Sharon (Kaly McKenna), the matriarch of the town. Their son James, after his seventh try, finally passed the bar exam at 32. He has a lovely wife, Louann (Michelle Lang). Len Hoch (John Rosen) is the plant manager. His wife, Ruth (Teri Brown) is an aspiring actress. Martha (Michele Guisti), Len's mother, is of the Woodstock generation.
The residents of Dublin also include Sheriff Conroy Atkins (Ron Lang); Earl Hill (Michael Barnett), a farmers' contact employee for the factory; Reverend Bobby Groves (Michael Barnett), and Ginger Reed (Karla Francesca), an assistant director in the local theater. Outsider Boyd Middleton (David Blaise Meredith) is directing GBS's Saint Joan at the community theater. Just a nice little community. Until, that is, we look closely at the characters, and then the underbelly of Dublin is exposed, flaws and all. The classless society is really quite stratified into those who control and those don't. Book of Days platforms the coexistence of good and evil, right and wrong, undying faith and reality. In other words, a look at life as it really is.
Director David Kelso, who also designed the set, begins with excellent casting and ends with an award-worthy production. He was, admittedly, blessed with a brilliant and powerful script; but it was Kelso who had to make it all work as set pieces changed before our eyes in mere moments. The play is a series of tableaus, some as short as a couple of words, others almost scene-length, with some speeches, as in storytelling, spoken to the audience. The talented cast is also balanced, with couples looking like they belong together.
Teri Brown glows in a scene following her debut performance in Saint Joan. John Rosen is believable as a manager who wants to see the company produce quality products. His husbandly glee at Ruth's theatrical success is touching in its joy. David Blaise Meredith, as the out-of-town director, has some fine moments, the best of which is his final speech with Ginger. Michelle Guisti is a delightful eccentric. Karla Francesca's interpretation of lusty Ginger Reed is a delight. Her second act tirade is so convincing, one feels sorry for poor Earl Hill, who, as played by Michael Barnett, has an edge both malevolent and pathetic. An excellent range of emotions.
Matthew Joyce makes James Bates a typical, second-generation ne'er do well scion. It is easy to despise him and his values. I wanted to see a bit more emotion from Michelle Lang's Louann. Her performance as a wife hurt by an unconsummated marriage and a wayward husband feels too understated. The Sheriff, played by Lang's husband, suffers from stereotyping in the script. His portrayal brings life and a strange humanity to the role. Brian Taraz is enjoyable as a preacher filled with his blind sided and misplaced faith in all the wrong people. You'll want to string him up.
Tim Carr's patriarch, Walt Bates, could give us a bit more arrogance to establish his true power. He seems just a bit too good to be true. James Michael McCullock's good sound effects and original music underscore the plot. Buck Diamond's lighting design complements the set and action. Costumer Teri Brown dresses the cast appropriately for their station in life.
I highly recommend a trip to just north of the border for OnStage's Book of Days. You may empathize with a character or two, and you will certainly become upset at the myopic views of many of the inhabitants of Dublin. Don't be fazed by the profanity or sexual games; they are all a very important part of the characters.
