THEATRE: THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL

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THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL

 

Run, don’t walk, to see this production of The Trip To Bountiful at the Ahmanson Theatre! Witnessing Cicely Tyson’s performance is a true privilege, one you should not miss out on, no matter where you are in life. (Unless you’re not in California right now, of course. But you should check where this tour will be next.)

People who read my reviews sometimes ask why I’m more often than not underwhelmed by LA theatre, and I tell them I can never put my finger on it, but that I just don’t find much to rave about. Seeing Cicely Tyson’s perfect performance on opening night made me realize why so many others do nothing for me.

(L to R) Cicely Tyson, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, and Arthur French. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

(L to R) Cicely Tyson, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, and Arthur French. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

Ms. Tyson is one of the very few who should even be allowed to call herself an “actress.” I can’t tell you exactly what she does that makes her performance so special; if I could, perhaps I’d know how to ply the craft in a similar way.

But her on-stage magic is not to be dissected. It’s to be marveled at and savored; I guarantee that you will rarely see anything like it again. I’ve been going to theatre regularly since I was about four, and I can’t think of many performances that can compare to this one.

Before I get any more carried away, let me tell you about the show in general. I had never seen any production of The Trip To Bountiful before, nor the famous movie of it, starring Geraldine Page, (who won the Oscar for it.) Being young, I had just assumed that Ms. Page’s presence in it meant it would be depressing, because that seemed to be the only type of story she was ever in. (I’ve been watching old movies since I was a child, and that was the impression I’ve always had.) So, I felt I was being brave to attend opening night of this incarnation.

But, (tiny spoiler alert here,) don’t be afraid because it’s actually a delightful journey, with no real pain involved. I wish that I had known that going in; I wouldn’t have spent my time in the theatre worrying.

This 1953 play by Horton Foote was written as a white family. That’s how it was produced on Broadway originally, and in the aforementioned 1983 film, as well. I’ve always had a bit of a problem with ethnicities not being portrayed as written, no matter in which way. I always jokingly ask–could I star in A Raisin In The Sun? I think not. (Though an all-Jewish version of that show might be interesting, don’t ya think?) So, as with the current fun production of Kiss Me Kate at the Pasadena Playhouse, it’s been pointed-out that this revival is an “all-black production.”

But that would be an incorrect thing to do with The Trip To Bountiful; it’s a tale without race. Although, somehow, the way it’s shown in this production, it does seem as though it was always meant to be a tale of the black experience. I actually can’t imagine a white cast doing it now! You’ll see what I mean when you see it.

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(L to R) Cicely Tyson, Blair Underwood, and Vanessa Williams.  Photo by Craig Schwartz.

(L to R) Cicely Tyson, Blair Underwood, and Vanessa Williams. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

The rest of the ensemble, led by Vanessa Williams and Blair Underwood, (more on him personally in a minute,) is fine. Everyone’s good, and does his or her job with aplomb, adding to the excellence of this version. No weak ones among all the actors.

But the show absolutely, one hundred percent, without a doubt, belongs to Cicely Tyson, which I’m sure her co-stars would all agree with. Besides her spot-on, sparkling, perfect, incredible performance, this at least octogenarian has the stamina of a twenty-year-old! She’s on stage for all but maybe five minutes of the two hour show! And every single second of it, she displays an electricity and luminescence that is not to be missed. And it’s all so easy; you never once see the work being done. I’m truly in awe, which is rare.

By the way, this show is funny! I never would have guessed that! I have a feeling the movie was far from that, but the theatre provides opportunities that film does not. The director, Michael Wilson, wrings every drop of humor available from the script; the audience was laughing and smiling from the very first minute. I was pleasantly surprised the entire time. (In case you didn’t already know, I never tell the story of a play in my reviews, so look it up, if you’d rather not just go along for the ride on my say-so.)

[Sidebar, on the topic of surprisingly humorous plays: A few years back, I had been semi-forced into seeing a play version of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. I had struggled through the old movie, (not to mention that, back in the day, when Mr. X and I used to engage in dramatic yelling matches, I always told the neighbors that we were just rehearsing that play,) so I was a bit apprehensive about witnessing it up-close and personal in the theatre. (And realizing that I had third row seats didn’t help calm my nerves!) But, that particular theatre production turned-out to be quite humorous, which I would not have thought possible. The Trip To Bountiful reminded me of that excellent experience.]

In addition to the story, direction, and portrayals being so worthwhile, I also must laud Jeff Cowie’s simple yet cluttered-when-it-had-to-be sets, and Van Broughton Ramsey’s costumes, especially those of Vanessa William; my mouth watered for two of her turquoise with a touch of pink outfits! Rui Rita’s lighting was a tad too dark for my taste in the first couple of scenes in the house, (because, when a stage is too dark, I feel it loses the audiences’ attention,) but picked-up nicely later. It was especially effective in the scene on the bus.

I know it’s shocking, but I seriously have nothing bad to say for once! On every level, from the acting clinic that is Cicely Tyson, to witnessing a lovely, handsome man on-stage, to seeing the most famous former Miss America in person, to witnessing a classic American play unfold, this is a perfect production. One that I hope you all get to see, either here in Los Angeles, or somewhere along the national tour. Do not miss this one!!!

Now, to the “more” on Blair Underwood that I promised at the start of this review. I have to tell you a little personal story about him. A good one! I met him last year, when he and I were both guests at another theatre production. At the after-party, the PR person told me to go introduce myself, since we had a couple of mutual pals.  Even though I know that most people think of me as far from shy, I am shy. And I hate bothering famous people, even though I know that most of them don’t mind. As a matter of fact, they may even welcome the attention.

[Digression about the above:  When I was doing my show, Karen’s Restaurant Revue, I often saw people pointing me out to others, without coming up to me.  I always wanted to tell them to please come say hi! When Pat Riley finally came up to me for the first time, he told me he had seen me at other events, but didn’t want to bother me.  And I thought, “Bother me, Pat, bother me!”  And not just because it was Pat Riley, though that certainly didn’t hurt! I think many other people in the public eye feel the same way.]

So, the night that I spied Blair, my friend and I worked-up our courage to say hi.  And guess what?  He could not have been more darling!!!  We wound-up talking for about fifteen minutes because Blair kept coming up with topics!  He’s as nice as most of his characters on TV are rotten! He became one of my favorite people in show biz that night. (I hear stories like this about him from others, as well.)

Not that you needed yet another reason to rush out and see The Trip To Bountiful, but getting to watch a beautiful man, in every sense of the word, work right in front of your eyes is just that.

The Trip To Bountiful running through November 2, 2014
Ahmanson Theatre  135 N. Grand Ave.  213-972-4400 www.centertheatregroup.org

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