[NEohioPAL] Berko review: HEAVEN'S MY DESTINATION (CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE)

[Roy Berko]

Thought-proving ‘HEAVEN’S
MY DESTINATION at CPH, but…
 
Roy Berko
 
(Member, American Theatre
Critics Association)
 
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At the start of
intermission of ‘HEAVEN’S MY DESTINATION,’ which is getting its world premiere
at the Cleveland Play House, the woman sitting next to me leaned over to her
companion and loudly whispered, “This is pretty weird, huh?”  I think she was echoing the thoughts of
many in the audience, especially those who disappeared before the second act.
 
‘HEAVEN’S MY DESTINATION’
was Thornton Wilder’s first novel set in America.   It introduces the audience to George Marvin
Brush.  Brush, a traveling textbook
salesman, is a fervent religious convert who, like his hero Ghandi, wants the
world to be a better place and the people in it to lead better lives.  “Better” in this case means no smoking,
no drinking, everyone being nice to each other and living lives of financial abstinence.  Much like Don Quixote, he travels
around spreading his version of what it takes to “live the impossible
dream.”  Of course, he is
misunderstood, ostracized, beaten up, ignored, laughed at, arrested, and
shunned.  
 
What is not clear in Lee
Blessings adaptation of the novel is whether the material is meant to be taken
seriously or as a tongue in cheek concept.
 
Wilder, who spent much of
his childhood in Hong Kong and Shanghai was a strict Congregationalist who was
brought up on the classics and attended such colleges as Oberlin and Yale.  His brother was a New Testament
scholar.   
 
The Pulitzer
Prize winning author of such plays as ‘OUR TOWN,’ ‘THE SKIN OF OUR
TEETH,’ and ‘THE MATCHMAKER,’he wrote with Asian precision.  His preciseness is what makes this play
confusing.  In Wilders other works,
his intentions are clear.  We know
when to laugh, when to be overcome with nostalgia or emotion.  Not so with ‘HEAVEN’S MY DESTINATION.’ 
 
The Play House
production, under the adept directing of Michael Bloom, is well staged, the
acting fine, and the production qualities creative.  What’s missing is the message and that’s not Bloom or the
cast’s fault.  The script is never
clear on  what Wilder/Blessing
was/is trying to say.  Is Heaven
each person’s destination?   Is it impossible to lead the “good” life?  Are those who preach goodness bound to be outcasts?   Can idealism be converted into
realism?  These suggestions just
touch on the possibilities.
 
Michael Halling, who
starred on Broadway in ‘A TALE OF TWO CITIES,’ ‘IN MY LIFE,’  and ‘THE PAJAMA GAME is believable and
gives a textured performance as George Brush.  Besides having a depth of acting skills, he has a beautiful
singing voice which he uses well tointerpret Josh Schmidt’s musical
compositions. 
 
The rest of cast, John
Woodson, Diane Dorsey, Christian Kohn, Katie Barrett, Justin Tatum, Kailey Bell
and Coutney Anne Nelson are all excellent in multi-roles.
 
Russell Parkman has
created an impressive set, but it is not always clear to what the large pile of
antiques which are mounted on a movable turntable, is exposing us.  As with the script, it is interesting,
but not always clear in purpose.
 
CAPSULE JUDGMENT:  ‘HEAVEN’S MY DESTINATION’ receives a
well honed production at CPH.  In
fact, the production outshines the script.
 ‘HEAVEN’S
MY DESTINATION,’ runs through MAY 17 as part of Fusion Fest.  For tickets call 216-795-7000 or go to
www.clevelandplayhouse.com.