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A Lie of the Mind by New Village Arts and Backyard Productions  A Lie of the Mind could only come from the mind of
Sam Shepard – a master of portraying the modern-day American family as both
darkly humorous and darkly depressing. Winner of the New York Drama Critics
Award for Best Play (1986), the story centers on two dysfunctional families
tied together through the marriage of Jake and Beth. Actually, the marriage knot
didn’t tie the families together very tightly. They don't think much of each
other, and most of them have never seen
each other except perhaps on the wedding day. And it isn’t until the abusive
Jake beats Beth for the un-teenth time, this time putting her in the hospital
with serious brain damage, that they begin to pay attention to one another
again.
In a way it’s more of a character piece, focusing on the individuals and their relationships more than the actual plot. Fortunately these all-important, richly drawn characters are being brought to life by some of San Diego’s finest actors in the first collaboration between New Village Arts and Backyard Productions. Real-life spouses and founders of New Village Arts, Francis Gercke and Kristianne Kurner, direct the show and star as Jake and Beth. Ironically, Jake beats his wife this last time for being an actress and supposedly having a thing for her leading man. As Jake, Francis is a paranoid, highly competitive and highly volatile time-bomb who seems to always teetering be on the edge of detonation. You tensely watch his behavior throughout, never knowing how he is going to respond to any situation. We only see Kristianne as the already brain-damaged Beth – a condition she performs believably as she seems to exist in a shadowy area where facts and memories are gray but truths that others refuse to see are crystal clear. Neither were raised in the best of family environments where blindness, selfishness, and competitiveness are the most prevalent family values. Jake’s father left early on, leaving Jake with some of the father’s bad genes and an obsessive mother (played by Sandra Ellis-Troy who babies and defends her troubled son with instinctual tenacity). Jake has a semi-normal sister (Jessica John) who knows the true nature of her brother better than anyone, and would like to use that knowledge to open her mother’s blinded eyes (and perhaps win some of her mother’s affections in the process). His brother Frankie (Joshua Everett Johnson, who does have a family resemblance) bridges the families as he checks on Beth’s fate, resulting in an extended and highly uncomfortable stay with the in-laws. Those in-laws are led by Beth’s redneck, chauvinist father who dismissively treats his wife as an unwelcome servant while he depends on her for everything. Beth’s mother is a meekly submissive, deeply kind, and infinitely patient woman. Both are portrayed perfectly by Jack Missett and Dana Case with every subtle body movement, eyes and facial expressions, and brilliant timing. Beth’s brother Mike (Daren Scott) is eager to punish the man who beat his sister, but more so out of family pride than brotherly love. This surreal and disturbing vision of the American family will not appeal to all, but if you enjoy the singular mind of Sam Shepard and want to see some of the finest acting and ensemble work around, this production of A Lie of the Mind will be sure to please.Performs through November 28, 2004. ~ Cast ~
Frankie: Joshua Everett Johnson Jake: Francis Gercke Beth: Kristianne Kurner Mike: Daren Scott Lorraine: Sandra Ellis-Troy Sally: Jessica John Baylor: Jack Missett Meg: Dana Case Director: Francis Gercke and Kristianne Kurner Scenic Design: Francis Gercke and John Zamora Lighting Design: Ginger Harris Sound Design: Joshua Everett Johnson Costume Design: Kate Harvey Stage Manager: Eric Firdman |