Page 4
The Blue Banner
November 8,2001
Features
Late-night theater quietly begins in Asheville
Lynne Fox
Features Reporter
The inaugural season of the High
land Repertory Theatre began Hal
loween night with the production
oP'LanguageofAngels.” Thegroup
presented the new play, by Naomi
lizuka, which has only been per
formed three times before.
Most theater devotees of Asheville
failed to realize that there is an
added late showing of the produc
tions.
The audience could go out to a
leisurely dinner and top the evening
off with good theater. For a town
that tends to close down early, ex
cept for the bar scene, this was a
refreshing addition to Asheville.
D. Rae Bucher, co-artistic direc
tor of the Repertory Theater, said
the play is about the “effects of
tragedy of others.” She described it
as “creepy, different, [and] some
thing you haven’t seen before.”
The 70-minute play
proved to be all that.
The nonlinear aspect
of the format added
to that description.
“Language of An
gels” consisted of eight actors, who
presented the evocative content in
an exceptional way.
The minimalist set provided an
essential background for the con-
Tke audience
could go out to
a leisurely din
ner and top the
evening off
with good the
ater.
COURTESY OF DIANA WORTHAM THEATER
The Highland Repertory Theatre presents “Language of Angels,” a play that describes the effects of
tragedy, in Diana Wortham Theater as the first play of their inaugural season.
Review
tent of the play, and the innovative
use of flashlights in the beginning
was interesting and realistic.
The play, directed by co-artistic
director, Andrew Gall,
is set in Western North
Carolina. It examines
the disappearance and
possible murder of
Celie, performed by
Tracey Johnson-Crum.
Celie reappears several times dur
ing the play. Her “Daisy Mae”-like
interpretation was perfect for the
character, and her presence was felt
throughout the performance.
All of the characters have their
futures altered because oftheir pres
ence the night of the tragedy. Some
die.
Some get into drug and alcohol
abuse, and one barely survives, but
still deals with the mystery.
The only two characters present
by the end of the play were Danielle,
the victim of drugs and isolation,
played by McKenzie Baker, and
JeffMessner’s character J.B., whose
supposed guilt inflicting both
physical and mental anguish.
Baker’s performance was excep
tional. She portrayed her character
as if she had not learned lines, but
lived the life.
Her character’s evolution during
the play led her from strength and
leadership to a shell of her former
self Her last scene as a drug addict
was riveting in its reality.
Messer created a character that
remained locked to a past, even as
he became a person of community
prominence.
His development of J.B. did not
resort to creating a caricature of a
southern sheriff He seemed to hit
his acting stride as the play pro
gressed. He certainly held his
own in a complex character.
Billy, played by Jesse Benz, gave a
performance reminiscent of actor
Harvey Keitel in its intensity and
electric quality. His character’s ir
rational behavior was released in a
fireworks display of emotion that
exploded for the audience.
The rest of the actors were all
multidimensional and effective in
their roles.
The audience of only three people
was the only downside of the night.
However, I suspect more and more
people will take advantage of the
late-hour production.
Future productions of the High
land Repertory Theater will include
productions of “How I Learned to
Drive,” “Waiting for Godot” and
“A Mislead Heaven.”
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