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Little Eyolf by Tonic Productions The new Tonic Productions, led by Artistic Director Amy Biedel, is opening their first major production. But they’re not taking the normal route, opening with a well-known show that will hopefully generate some ticket sales. With their mission to bring important works to the stage, they’ve gone the dangerous and obscure route, beginning with a little-known nineteenth-century play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, sometimes referred to as the father of modern drama. Until Ibsen, Victorian playwrights had stuck to straight moral precepts in which a good protagonist won out over an evil antagonist through his strong moral fiber. Ibsen broke the rules, his protagonists often being people with problems of their own, and tackling head on the flaws and hypocrisies of Victorian morality. Little Eyolf is one of his last creations – a family drama of complex, imperfect human characters who are uncertain about the moral ambiguities life often presents. Alfred is an author recently returned to his estate after weeks of solitude to work on his next writing project, a book about the responsibility of humanity. He returns to his wife and crippled son whom he hardly knows, claiming that he’s going to forget writing and devote the rest of his life to his son Eyolf’s happiness. Which doesn’t go over well with his jealous wife Rita who wants Alfred’s attentions all to her own. A problem that may either be solved or further complicated with the visit from the Rat Wife, a woman who claims to have the gift of the pied piper, leading unhappy creatures to their happy deaths. John DeCarlo is Alfred, whose desire to do something great with his life is palpable, even as he flounders in his own humanness. Crystal Verdon is a scared and lonely soul who is aptly cold to everyone who threatens her time with Alfred. Their little Eyolf is played by Austin Potts with a detached lack of warmth for others to be expected after being raised by his loveless parents. Nicole Solas is Astas, a childhood friend of Alfred who grew up as his half-sister, both of them loving each other while trying to deny that love is not merely fraternal, the tension always strong. Tristan Poje is nice guy Borghejm with unrequited love for Astas, and Veronica Murphy cameos as the mysterious and ominous Rat Wife. The show has some difficulties, many of them inherent in their nineteenth-century roots. The pace is a plodding one and much of the dialogue sounds like melodrama. But if you can get past that, there’s an intriguing web of relationships and emotions to savor.
Performance Dates: August 17 to September 10, 2006
~ Cast ~
Alfred: John DeCarlo Rita: Crystal Verdon Asta: Nicole Solas Eyolf: Austin Potts Borghejm: Tristan Poje The Rat Wife: Veronica Murphy Mopseman: Icarus Puppet Company Director: Dustin Condren Stage Manager: Victoria Martinez Set Designer: Christopher Allison Lighting Designer: Crystal Watts Costume Design: Veronica Murphy |