Harrison, TX: Three Plays by Horton Foote.

[skynyc]

I happen to love this playwright's work. He writes with a natural rhythm that is never stilted or uninformed. His plays show you slices of life of very real people in different eras, (but usually in West Texas.) This collection of three one acts is a wonderful (if melancholy) evening of his work, and would be a good introduction to Foote's style. Stop now if you want to see it...lots of spoilers.

 

The first play, Blind Date, set in 1928 depicts a socially awkward girl come to Harrison to stay with her aunt, presumably to introduced to boys, and meet a potential husband. Sarah Nancy is awkward at best and has NONE of her loquacious Aunt Delores' conversational skills. Still Delores is determined to try, and even prepares eight conversation openers for the girl to use with her latest suitor, Felix, who has just left the insurance business to go to school to become a mortician. The ensuing evening of talk, (or lack thereof) is perfectly humorous, perfectly awkward, perfectly humiliating and perfectly human. Foote's daughter Hallie, the perfect interpreter of her dad's women, is ideal as always. (And for those who saw Kathleen Turner's 12-Step nun in High a couple years ago, young Felix is played by Evan Jonigkeit, who displayed a pretty huge "talent" in that rather uninteresting vehicle.)

 

The second play The One-Armed Man, also set in 1928 is surprisingly violent for Mr. Foote, and yet portrays the confrontation of a man who lost his arm in a cotton gin accident, and his employer. How well would YOU remember the Lord's Prayer with a gun at your temple?

 

The final play, The Midnight Caller sent in 1952, focuses on the tenants of a rooming house...the catty gossip, the young girl just starting out, and the experienced old maid schoolteacher, (portrayed by the always-welcome Jane Houdyshell.) Add to the mix a MAN!, recently divorced at that, and the young woman who is the most talked about girl in town because she won't marry the rich, alcoholic boy who loves her, and suddenly there's a lot going on at Mrs. Crawford's house.

 

 

Beautifully staged, with a terrific cast this is a worthy prediction of Foote's unwavering portrayal of another time and place. It runs about 95 minutes without an intermission at 59E59 as part of Primary Stages new season.

 

I got this ticket for $30 on tdf, and it runs through September 15th.