Corn Stock closed its winter season at the end of March with “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” by the Irish playwright Martin McDonagh. It was the boldest choice of material for any of our theaters this past year and was well directed by Tim Wyman.
It is a dark comedy that explores the all-consuming sense of grievance that has become so much a part of our lives whether in the form of “the troubles” of Northern Ireland, terror in the Middle East or even the recent resentments of florists or bakers providing service to same sex couples in Indiana. We live in a time of all-consuming resentment and grievance that turns into full-blown violence and discrimination.
The characters of McDonagh’s play are clueless, ignorant but quick-tempered and violent. They are splinter groups fighting amongst themselves for some greater glory and, if asked, would only be able to explain their actions by the most generalized banalities from a bumper sticker understanding of “liberty” or “freedom” or “rights.” The sociopathic Padraic, well played by Cody Cornwell, returns home to the island to tend to his ailing cat, Wee Thomas, only to discover the cat is dead, and he becomes so enraged that all kinds of blood and mayhem result. At the end of the play there are five dead bodies all because of complications from the cat.
“All you need is love” by the Beatles describes the action for Bradley’s final show of the season, Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” a delightful romance and investigation of love in all its varied expressions. The play begins in the strife-filled court of Duke Frederick where everyone seems angry, tense and troubled, and this contributes to the banishment of the Duke’s daughter, Rosalind, well-played by Meghan Grott, into the forest of Arden. Soon all the sophisticates from the city are mixing with the rustics, and are transformed by the redemptive power of nature. They all become better, nicer people.
Shakespeare was a country boy and grew up near this forest which was part of his mother’s ancestral heritage as her maiden name was “Arden.” Many in the audience of the original production had only recently arrived in London fresh off the “turnip wagon” from the countryside and would have enjoyed the sentimental look at the innocence of their earlier country lives. This production was set in 1940’s America and featured original music composed by Hannah Williams who, along with two other students, sang Shakespeare’s lyrics in the style and harmonies of the Andrews Sisters. Their singing accompanied on ukulele was delightful and added just the right touch to the evening.
Both of these productions deserved a larger audience, and because of this lack of support they become a poster child for the title of this column, The Magnificent Invalid. I could not help but wonder what the several thousand students who reside within a few blocks of Hartmann Center could possibly be doing that would be more interesting than attending a play by Shakespeare. If they do not take advantage of cultural offerings while students, will they ever? Where are the faculty? Appreciation of plays does not just happen. We must train our minds to be able to follow intricate storytelling and character development. I have been to films and plays with people who afterward had no idea what the story was about. They simply could not follow the development. It has been referred to as “The Sesame Street Syndrome” when people’s attention span is no longer than it takes Cookie Monster to devour a treat. If we no longer have the patience to allow a story to be told, how will we ever have the patience to examine intricate and subtle arguments for public policy necessary for a functioning democracy?
The 68th annual Gridiron Dinner was held in the ballroom of the renovated Hotel Pere Marquette on April 16. This year featured Washington mayor Gary Manier as the straight man to Lee Wenger’s fond remembrance of the late Al Zuccarini. This “roast” is a contemporary bacchanal with good food, drink and company. Attendees wear black tie and bring their bluest humor for a night of howling at the moon to usher in spring after the long winter and poke fun at local events and personalities provided by comic skits and songs. Caterpillar’s announced new headquarters, Aaron Schock’s resignation and “Twitter Gate” were favorite topics for parody this year.
Hollywood film producer and former Peorian, Aaron Warr has announced the local premiere of his film “College Debts” will be held at Landmark and Rave theaters in August. Mr. Warr cast the late academy award winning actress, Celeste Holm in the film that features several extras from here, as well as Peoria Players theater in the final scene. The film has been shown at Cannes but because of the economic meltdown in 2008 is just now being released. We wish him every success for his project, and I look forward to supporting it in August.