Everything Old is New Again!

A BAD FRIEND
By Jules Feiffer
ITheatre Collaborative
Herberger Theatre Centre
Directed by Christopher Haines
September 11 – 26, 2009
603-347-1071

Let me open with a quote from the Press Release which ITheatre Collaborative sent out to publicize A BAD FRIEND, their season opener.

If for no other reason than the above, everyone should go to see this play! All summer we have been bombarded with stories about the divisively rowdy health care town halls; we have heard about several instances of rude behavior by public figures who try to stifle any thinking which is not commensurate with their own; we have watched the rise of demagogue like talk show hosts who, as modern day McCarthy’s denounce everyone who does not agree with them. Are we doomed to relive the 1950’s in the 21st Century?

            Apparently Jules Feiffer, a noted cartoonist and playwright, thinks that perhaps we are. So he wrote A BAD FRIEND in 2003 and used his own family background and experiences to make his point. This is the story of  Shelly and Naomi Wallach, a middle aged couple who have spent their whole lives devoted to civil rights, their belief in Progressivism (read Communism), and an undying love for Joseph Stalin. Their teen aged daughter Rose, however, rejects all this rigid philosophy and yearns for a warm, loving relationship devoid of political pedagogy. Based on Feiffer’s own struggle as he grew up  in an era where independent thought was frowned upon, the author jokes about the fact that he waited 50 years to write this play because , “Do you think I would have dared write this if my sister were alive?” Feiffer is a master of satire and this play bears his mark beautifully. It is a vital, disturbingly thought provoking look at the modern scene through the lens of a half century of experience.

            Chris Haines’ production of this play has much to recommend it. It is presented in a retro fashion which is well enhanced by the costuming, sound and set design. The opening montage of slides, set to a stirring rendition of THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND, takes us back to the 50’s immediately. Other period music adds to the effect throughout. As soon as the characters begin to speak, you are transported to New York City, especially in the case of Shannon Whirry, who does a magnificent job as Naomi, the long suffering, politically radical mother. Bruce Laks as the father is adequate, but seemed to have some trouble with his lines on Opening Night when I saw the show. Teenager Rose, played by Makala Close, improved as the performance went on, but was a bit wooden and one dimensional at first. She seeks understanding and seems to find it, not at home as would be expected, but in the park talking to a stranger named Emil. Greg Lutz is quite good in this role, remaining a bit of a mystery throughout until we are told of his real identity near the end of the show. Lutz reveals much depth of character, even if we are not sure who that character was. And then there is the second mystery man (well played by Ryan Nelson), who turns out to be an FBI agent sent to investigate Rose’s Uncle (Steven J. Scally), who is a Hollywood writer and thus a special target of McCarthy. Those of us who lived through this era can well remember the terror that swept the entertainment industry, as friends denounced friends and many talents were blacklisted. The scenes between Scally and Close are some of the best in the play. One other stirring scene was between Shelly and Naomi as they have a knock down, drag out argument over their beliefs.

            As a director, Haines has accomplished a lot. The stage is small and the set is bare bones, but the effect of the play is tremendous due to that direction. In particular, the powerful silent ending is most effective. But there are many instances of creative blocking, such as the seemingly endless circling of Rose and the FBI man and Rose and Emil. You wonder as you watch just which of them is the “bad friend”. Feiffer’s script is a story about betrayal – of a child by her parents, of a sister by her brother, of a young girl by two people she trusted and admired. But then that was the aura of the McCarthy years – let us hope that we are not now headed in the same direction . If you want to have much food for thought, go to see A BAD FRIEND at ITheatre Collaborative.