More Than a Zoo Story
Posted on 26 October, 2009 | No Comments
by Beth Hoag
The University of Missouri’s Corner Playhouse transformed into a scene from the late 50’s for this past weekend’s performance of Edward Albee’s two one acts The Zoo Story and The American Dream. While both vary greatly in style, they both focus in on disillusions with idea of the American dream.
Both of the sets and costumes add to creating this era for the audience. Both of the sets are pretty plain with just two benches making up the set for The Zoo Story and just three white padded benches for the set of The American Dream. Both feature doorways off of two side of the stage. With the audience surrounding all four sides, these doorways are the only way the characters enter and exit continuing this feeling of entering into a different time and place. For The Zoo Story, these entrances are made of sticklike materials giving the look of entering into a park where the scene takes place. The American Dream entrances are painted with faded red stripes and white stars on a faded blue background giving the impression that the American Dream could be faded.
The costume design by Kerri Packard is something to be applauded. Each character not only represents someone from the time period, but each brings a different look for his or her characters. Peter Smith’s tweed jacket gave him an older almost professorial look, where Mommy’s skin tight Jackie-O style 1960’s dress added to her spoiled nature and her need for material things. However, it was not just the costumes that added to the overall performance, but it was the acting itself that made the performances worthwhile.
Steve Robertson’s performance as the slightly off Jerry was excellent. Displaying the thoughts and innermost workings of his character through elaborate movements, Robertson reached real emotions for himself. During one part of the performance Robertson even began to sweat allowing his character to overcome him as an actor.
Peter Smith’s performance as Peter was also stunning. From reluctance towards Jerry’s actions toward the beginning to pure raw emotion at the end of the one act, Smith never faltered. His tweed jacket and glasses only added to the look of the overall character helping him to look just like the married man he plays.
It was only in the actual scripting of Albee’s plays that I felt a disconnect. Towards the middle of The Zoo Story, Jerry launches into a story involving him and a dog. While Robertson did a wonderful job trying to keep the audience entertained, the words seemed to loose me at times causing my mind to wander and not focus on the performance at hand.
This was also the case for parts of the second one act play, The American Dream. Ashley Hicks stood out above all with her performance as Grandma. Adding humor and wit to the storyline, her character seemed to represent some typical stereotypes of older people. Even her walk displayed such a unique character making her easy to watch and to get close to as a character.
Overall the performance was brilliantly acted, but some not something that really blew me away in terms of the overall story line.
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