stage cast
who originally played the two sisters and their girlfriend on the stage? (i.e. the roles played by Davis, Gish , & Sothern in the film)
shareIt is here:
Libby Marjorie Nelson
Sarah Priscilla Lauris
You can read the review as it appeared in Seattle PI:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/theater/whaleq.shtml
** John Kotynek
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Uneven direction, acting beach 'Whales of August'
Wednesday, April 5, 2000
By SEAN ROBINSON
SPECIAL TO THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
It's almost as if two productions of "The Whales of August" are playing at Tacoma Actors Guild.
In the first act, the performances are so muted and distant it seems deliberate -- as though spontaneous displays of emotion have been forbidden. In the second, the impression reverses, and the show becomes so heartfelt that it borders on the maudlin.
David Berry's play, produced as a film in 1987, recounts two widowed sisters' struggle to cope with aging. The older Libby (Marjorie Nelson), whose health is failing, has become bitter and withdrawn, while her sister Sarah (Priscilla Lauris) strives to be cheerful despite her loneliness.
Berry gently weaves multiple ironies into the fabric of the basic scenario. Libby's eyesight is bad, and she is prone to occasional delusions, but her perception of human nature is keen. Sarah is still vital and vigorous, but her romanticism blinds her to hard truths.
The contest of wills between Libby and Sarah is the key to the action, which makes director Leslie Swackhamer's treatment of the first act somewhat curious. The early lines between the two sisters are delivered flatly, with a disengaged, singsong quality, perhaps to reinforce the repetitious, ritual nature of their relationship.
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THEATER REVIEW
The Whales of August. By David Berry. Tacoma Actors Guild, 915 Broadway, Tacoma. Through April 9. Tickets $12.50-$25; 253-272-2145.
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Whether deliberate or inadvertent, the approach drains most of the tension out of the conflict between the sisters. They don't seem to care much about what's going on, or each other. The entrance of a neighbor, played by JoAnn Johnson, comes as a relief -- it's the first moment of genuine vocal energy in the production.
The second act is far more lively -- perhaps too much so. The performers begin to linger over obvious moments and declaim to the audience instead of speaking to each other. Sentimental background music, evidently composed by sound designer Ron Geier, punctuates the scene breaks far too loudly, reinforcing the sense of overstatement.
As Sarah, Lauris etches a restrained portrait -- the duty-bound sister, more grim than gay. She has a fine moment in the second act, when she celebrates her wedding anniversary alone in the middle of the night.
However, she regards Sarah as entirely sensible and rarely silly, which is too bad. A touch of giddiness would contrast more effectively with Libby's fatalism, and add some much-needed humor to the production.
Instead, Nelson walks away with most of the available laugh lines. She has the lovable curmudgeon role, which makes it easier, but she works to avoid the clichés so common to that specimen of character.
Technically, "The Whales of August" continues TAG's tradition of high-quality sets. The cottage interior designed by Peggy McDonald is an elaborate marvel -- a lovely frame for a portrait that could have been more satisfying.