Monday, February 9, 1998
Realism behind ‘Icarus Alighting’ melts viewers’ hearts
THEATER Former Bruins’ play implements innovative stage-blocking
scheme to illuminate common themes
By Ai Goldsmith
Daily Bruin contributor
"A new play … for anyone who has ever wanted wings," is the
motto of Icarus Alighting.
Written by former Bruins Ham Tran and Jesse Thompson, "Icarus
Alighting" runs through Feb. 15 at the McCadden Theater in
Hollywood.
Based on the myth of Icarus and Daedalus, the play shifts back
and forth between three main plots that capture various situations
and emotions. Intense and passionate, the drama unfolds to reveal
stories about people who have reached some kind of an impasse in
their lives.
The curtain opens on a young widow named Brook (Melissa Berry)
and her mother-in-law, Flora (Tiffany Stettner). For the most part,
Brook and Flora’s story explores in-law relationships and the pain
of losing a loved one.
While Brook and Flora leave the stage to fight their battles,
the focus shifts to another part of the stage, where three college
students (complete with their UCLA notebooks) discuss issues of
ambition, life and relationships.
Amid the bustle of different scenes, a solitary figure walks
down the aisle and sits on a park bench beneath a Greco-Romanesque
statue. Not only does the park bench provide a setting for the
story of a young woman in search of her grandfather, family ties
and love that feeds the soul; the park becomes a place where all
characters find a new beginning.
The logic behind the stage blocking is that while all stories
share the same space on stage, each story takes place in a
different location. This way, each story in "Icarus" is
universalized – it can happen to anyone, anywhere.
Yet in some ways, the manner in which the stories rotate and
move around the stage becomes confusing. One easily forgets that
each story occurs elsewhere, especially when characters from other
stories wander into the park while the story of the grandfather and
the grandmother is played out.
Although each vignette in "Icarus Alighting" may not relate
directly to everyone’s lives, the play as a whole speaks of age-old
heartaches and joys. One cannot help but empathize with Brook as
she tries to deal with Flora, who insists on being motherly and
smooth as cream even when she is irritated.
Similarly, it’s easy to sympathize with Ed Dallas (Eric Laciste)
when his true love attempts to break off the relationship after he
speaks of marriage. On the other hand, we also feel the pain Cara
(Ronna Dalen) feels as she is pulled by opposing forces: her love
for Ed and her ambition to succeed.
The characters are realistic and believable, from
ambition-driven Cara to the silently grieving Brook. While all the
actors do a fine job of bringing their characters to life,
additional kudos go to Berry and to Katie Dawson, who plays Claire,
a young woman who discovers her grandfather and finds letters left
to her from her biological mother.
Backed by a conglomeration of accomplished actors, "Icarus
Alighting" boasts many witty and thought-provoking lines. For
instance, "What is a normal relationship?" asks Sarah Finn, a stock
artist character played by Anjali Ryan. "Think about it and tell me
if you want one of those."
Philosophical and comforting, we are also reminded by Brook that
"time can’t take away the memories that are linked to you. It only
amplifies them."
THEATER: "Icarus Alighting" runs through Feb. 15 at the McCadden
Theater, 1157 McCadden Place, Hollywood. Tickets are $12, $8 for
students and senior citizens. For more information, call (213)
464-9784.
Hipcheck
Katie Dawson as Claire and H. Michael Miller as Jonah in a scene
from "Icarus Alighting."