March 27, 2009 - The Austin Chronicle

artslistingsblowing our way. Dirt covers the stage, andbeating down on it is a broiling orange lightthrough which more dirt appears to gust. It’sreally fog, but the illusion is so convincingthat your throat tightens. Before a word isspoken in Zach Theatre’s moving productionof The Grapes of Wrath, you feel the ariddesolation of the Dust Bowl and the windsthat scattered its people from their homes.When the large ensemble ambles ontothis barren patch, you grasp the desperationin their characters’ lives, the sense thattheir world has shriveled up as thoroughlyas their crops. What once held them to thissoil – the land they farmed, the means itgave them to live, their neighbors – has, asone says, gone with the wind. And as theirstory unfolds, all the talk of drought, foreclosures,arrests, and poverty makes clearthat they’re bound to be leaving themselvessoon, more human tumbleweeds blownacross the scorched and empty plains.But it isn’t only the land that’s parched;the souls of these people are, too. Beatendown by callous banks, police, and otherauthorities, they’ve lost their faith in what’sright and in themselves. The Joads, theclan at the heart of John Steinbeck’s noveland this Frank Galati adaptation, abandonOklahoma and, like so many Dust Bowlfamilies, head to California, lured by thepromise of steady work picking fruit in greenorchards. But as they suffer misfortune uponmisfortune, they speak again and again ofsin and the law, no longer sure what eithermeans. Some, like Harvey Guion’s ebullientPa Joad and Paul Mitchell Wright’s genialUncle John, erupt in anguish, fearful that thesource of their woes is their transgressionsThe Grapes of WrathZach Theatre Kleberg Stage,through May 10Running time: 2 hr, 30 minA long, low horizon stretches across the back of the stage.Below it is earth baked bone-dry, above it thick, roiling cloudsthat blot out the sky – a dust storm like the wrath of Jehovahagainst God. Some, like David Christopher’sTom Joad and Jarret Mallon’s Floyd, seetheat the injustices committed by those withpower on their side and fight back, though itmeans going against the law. Jim Casy, thepreacher who has lost his calling, repeatedlyquestions his faith, his doubt traced withtouching humility by Marc Pouhé. Then thereis Janelle Buchanan’s Ma Joad, the heart ofthis production; she is no less shaken bymisery than anyone – feelings revealed inpauses and flashes across her face – yetshe remains steady, a rock in a harsh wind,answering any questions to her or in herown heart with the refrain that one doeswhat one has to do. It’s a hallmark of DaveSteakley’s staging that, just as Cliff Simon’sset, Jason Amato’s lighting, and CraigBrock’s sound make us feel we’re in a physicaldesert, the performers collectively makeus feel we’re in a spiritual desert.There is moisture to be found here, thoughin the music woven through the scenes.Traditional folk tunes, hymns, and songs ofthe Great Depression, arranged sensitivelyby Allen Robertson and performed with deepfeeling by John Pointer, Sarah Gay, Rich Upton,and others in the cast, are a wellspring ofcomfort and compassion. Even when theyexpress pain, the beauty of their deliverygrants a measure of solace. And in the end,that is as much what the show is about astribulations and sorrows. The haunting finalimage, of a young mother of a stillborn childsuckling a starving man, is of profound kindnessand grace – qualities desperately neededas we come into our own hard times. Thisproduction does the good service of showingus that with beauty and power. – Robert Faires74 T H E A U S T I N C H R O N I C L E MARCH 27, 2009 a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o mtheatreOPENINGAUSTIN SCRIPT WORKS: TIME STEPS: 10-MINUTEPLAY SHOWCASE Flashbacks, maternal admonitions,and all kinds of dances promenade throughthis 11th annual Out of Ink showcase. Eight playswere selected from submissions created duringa locked-door, 48-hour writing retreat. Scripts byKatherine Catmull, Aimée Gonzalez, Meg Haley, MaxLangert, Marshall Maresca, Susan McMath Platt,Sarah Saltwick, and Timothy Thomas get a fine stagingby local directors and actors. Thu.-Sat., March26-April 4, 8pm. The Blue Theater, 916 Springdale,927-1118. $12 ($10, students, seniors, ACoT; paywhat you wish, March 26). www.scriptworks.org.AUSTIN CABARET THEATRE: SHARONMONTGOMERY The former Texan returns to her rootswith much glamour and Broadway savvy in tow fora night of songs and banter. Thu.-Fri., March 26-27,8:30pm. Mansion at Judges’ Hill, 1900 Rio Grande,495-1800. $39. www.austincabaret.blogspot.com.THE HEIDI CHRONICLES Wendy Wasserstein’s sharpcomedy traces the coming-of-age of Heidi Holland, asuccessful art historian, as she and her friends charttheir path for personal fulfillment in the tumultuousSixties and through the isolated Eighties. FeaturingRachel McGinnis and Charles P. Stites and directedby Susie Gidseg for City Theatre. March 26-April 19.Thu.-Sat., 8pm; Sun., 5:30pm. City Theatre, 3823Airport Ste. D, 524-2870. $15-20 ($12, students; paywhat you wish, Thursdays). www.citytheatreaustin.org.HAL HOLBROOK: MARK TWAIN TONIGHT Need wesay more? OK: The man’s been doing this for almosthalf a century; it’s like a marathon of actorly reincarnation,an American institution, and it’ll do you upright for an evening of entertainment and edification.Fri.-Sat., March 27-28, 8pm. Paramount Theatre,713 Congress, 472-5470. $25-75. www.austintheatre.org.ACOT READING: SEVEN JEWISH CHILDREN AustinCircle of Theaters and Cambiare Productions presenta staged reading and discussion of Caryl Churchill’scontroversial new work about seven key moments inIsrael’s history. This Austin premiere will be followed bya discussion facilitated by the Chronicle’s own RobertFaires and playwright C. Denby Swanson. Fri., March 27,8pm. Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd.,397-1468. Free. www.cambiareproductions.com.A FLEA IN HER EAR Georges Feydeau’s classic farce,predicated on suspicions of marital infidelity, is directedby Don Toner for Austin Playhouse and featuresAndrea Osborn, David Stokey, and a fine cast of charactersin period costumes by Buffy Manners. March27-May 3. Thu.-Sat., 8pm; Sun., 5pm. Austin Playhouse,3601 S. Congress, Bldg. C, 476-0084. $26-30 (halfprice for students). www.austinplayhouse.com.THE DAVID MARK COHEN NEW WORKS FESTIVALThe University Co-op presents this diverse biennial celebrationof new theatre works and informative panelscreated by UT students, showcased in various venuesaround the Winship Drama Building (23rd & San Jacinto),with all performances free and open to the generalpublic. Comedy, drama, dance, music – something forevery taste and all of it rendered fresh from fledgling ormore storied academic minds. There’s a new play (TheMariner) based on a Decemberists song, for instance,and Mac bloody Wellman is attending this festival. (See“Research and Development,” p.36, for details – and afull schedule!) March 30-April 4. www.coopnwf.org.THE DIONYSIUM returns with its monthly slate ofdebates, lectures, and aesthetically invigorating entertainment.This time, it’s all up in the science-y side ofthings, with a debate on nanotechnology, a talk on “junkscience,” a possible mad-scientist cartoon from LanceMyers, and more – as presided over by Buzz Moranand L.B. Deyo, abetted by the live keyboards of GrahamReynolds. Wed., April 1, 7pm. Alamo Drafthouse South,1120 S. Lamar, 707-8262. $8. www.originalalamo.com.THE REAL THING IN REAL TIME The fourth annualDavid O. Nilsson Lecture in Contemporary Dramatakes on meta-theatre as noted stage actors tacklescenes from Tom Stoppard’s play-within-a-play TheReal Thing. Wed., April 1, 5pm. AT&T Executive Center,1900 University Ave. Free. www.lib.utexas.edu.MY CHILD, MY CHILD, MY ALIEN CHILD Zell MillerIII heeds popular demand to restage this funny andmoving story about his son crash-landing into hislife. The award-winning presentation (David MarkCohen New Play Award 2007) will take you throughall the frustration, confusion, and supreme joy ofparenthood. Directed by Ken Webster. Thu.-Sat., April2-18, 8pm. Hyde Park Theatre, 511 W. 43rd, 479-PLAY.$18 ($16, students, seniors, ACoT; pay what you can,Thursdays). www.hydeparktheatre.org.SUBMISSION INFORMATION:The Austin Chronicle is published every Thursday. Infois due the Monday of the week prior to the issue date. Thedeadline for the April 10 issue is Monday, March 30.Include name of event, date, time, location, price, phonenumber(s), a description, and any available photos orartwork. Include SASE for return of materials.Send submissions to the attention of the appropriate writer(see roster below). Mail to the Chronicle, PO Box 49066,Austin, 78765; fax, 458-6910; or e-mail:Wayne Alan Brenner, theatre, comedy.brenner@austinchronicle.com.Robi Polgar, performance art, dance, classical.dance-classical@austinchronicle.com.Ric Williams, litera. litera@austinchronicle.com.Benné Rockett, visual arts. art@austinchronicle.com.Questions? Contact Wayne Alan Brenner, Listings editor.brenner@austinchronicle.com.STEPHEN LYNCH The comedic singer-songwriter,star of Broadway’s The Wedding Singer, brings hisdulcet tones and wisenheimer words to the hallowedstage Downtown. Thu., April 2, 8pm. ParamountTheatre, 713 Congress, 472-5470. $24-28.www.austintheatre.org.CARNIVAL AH! Austin Community College Arts andHumanities Division’s festival kicks off with studentpresentations and more, offering a variety of instructionand performance for the theatrically and literarilyoriented (see our Litera listings, p.77, for instance).Details to follow in our next issue, or see the ACCwebsite for more. April 2-4. ACC Main Theatre,1212 Rio Grande, 223-3245. www.austincc.edu/carnival.COMMON GROUND Antoinette Winstead’s compellingstory of a post-Vietnam Texas homecoming, directedby Stephen Gerald, is a world-premiere production fromProArts Collective. April 2-5. Thu.-Fri., 8pm; Sat.-Sun.,3 & 7pm. Boyd Vance Theatre at Carver, 1165 Angelina,474-8497. $20. www.proartsaustin.org.CLOSINGBOMBS IN YOUR MOUTH This is the world premiereof Corey Patrick’s dark comedy about a long-estrangedbrother and a sister reuniting after their father dies.This damned funny comedy stars Joey Hood and LizFisher and is directed by Ken Webster for Hyde ParkTheatre. You saw HPT’s Dog Sees God? You saw theirThe Pillowman? This shit’s good, too. Recommended.Through March 28, 8pm. Hyde Park Theatre, 511 W. 43rd,479-PLAY. $18 ($16, students, seniors, ACoT; pay whatyou wish, Thursdays). www.hydeparktheatre.org.ONGOINGGREASE The popular Fifties musical gets a boldrevival out in Georgetown. Through April 19. Fri.-Sat.,7:30pm; Sun., 2pm. Palace Theater, 810 S. Austin Rd.,Georgetown, 512/869-7469. $22 ($20, seniors; $12,students, military; $8, age 15 or younger).www.georgetownpalace.com.MACBETH The Austin Drama Club, under the directionof Japhy Fernandes, presents this bloodiest of theBard’s tragedies. E-mail for location. Through April 4.Thu.-Sat., 8pm. Pay what you can. ceasarbnice@yahoo.comTHE TEXCENTRIC SHOW The madcap jesters ofEsther’s Follies branch out with this send-up of oldtimeradio shows: sketches, skits, live music, and soon, like a sort of locally warped version of A PrairieHome Companion to enhance your dining pleasure.With Sand Sheff, Ellana Kelter, and Ted Meredith,directed by Doug Ewart. Wednesdays, 7:30pm. Patsy’sCowgirl Cafe, 5001 E. Ben White, 444-2020. Free (forthe month of April). www.patsyscowgirlcafe.com.HUMAN SKETCHES This is an original contemporaryplay, by local playwright Trey Deason, about twowomen from wildly different lifestyles trying to findwhat they need in each other and ultimately findingmuch more than they bargained for. Directed by SeanHunter. Through April 4. Thu.-Sat., 8pm; Sun., 2pm. SamBass Community Theatre, 600 N. Lee, Round Rock,512/244-0440. $15 ($13, ages 12 and younger).www.sambasstheatre.org.HOLY CROSS SUCKS! Rob Nash took his one-man,multicharacter production to the wilds of off-Broadwayand impressed even the jaded likes of The New YorkTimes, but the man is Austin’s own powerhouse of