[NEohioPAL] Berko review: THE ALICE SEED (Cleveland Public Theatre), preview: 'no CHILD' (CPT)

[Roy Berko]

‘THE ALICE SEED’ at CPT, a conjure-wives tale; ‘no Child’ returns

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times

--cool cleveland.com—

‘THE ALICE SEED,’ now in a world premiere production at Cleveland Public Theatre, is a perfect offering for the Halloween season.  On the surface, as explained by local playwright Michael Sepesy, “the play is about the ferocity of a mother’s love for her child. On another level, it’s about the acceptance of loss and mortality.”  In addition, there is a spooky element to the goings on.

It is a tale of loss and the powerful desire to hold on to our most cherished ones.   In this case, a child who has died of cancer.  A child who died in a hospital alone as her exhausted parents had gone home, after a long vigil, to get some rest.  The feelings of guilt for abandoning the youngster weighs heavily on their hearts.
To gain a full understanding there are some factors that must be explored.  The play takes place in the south.  Some people of that section of the country, believe supernatural events affect the lives of real people.  The term for these events is laid in the tradition of “conjure-wife” tales.   Or, as it would be termed in other environs, “old wives tales.”  

Questions arise.  Can someone come back from the dead?  What would drive a person to make a pact with the devil?  Is the mother delusional?   Can these people ever gain internal peace?

Sepesy has said, with a view to potential audience members, “If people like suspense, there’s suspense. If they like horror, there are elements of horror. If people like lyricalplays and metaphors, or weird, or humor, or family dramas, or philosophy, or emotional works — there’s something in the play for everyone.”
 
The CPT production, which is directed by Alison Garrigan, fulfills the requirements of the play.  The acting is strong and the production well paced.

Jackie Cummins shows the right maniacal focus as the grief and guilt-ridden mother.  Mark Mayo, as her husband, stays on course.  Joseph Milan, the local law-enforcement officer, who has endured the death of his wife, develops a clear characterization.  

Trad Burns’ set design sometimes gets in the way of the action.  Combining so many settings within a specific confine leads to some confusion.  Maybe having a blank stage, with some suggestive setting pieces would have worked better.

Capsule judgement:  ‘THE ALICE SEED’ is an interesting piece of theatre which will appeal to audiences who are willing to stretch their imaginations and accept the unexplainable. 

The show runs though October 24 in the James Levin Theatre.

‘no CHILD’ is back!  

Last season I praised ‘no CHILD,’ the one-woman play which captures the essence of what it is like to be in the public school system today.  I stated, “Nina Domingue so consumes the various roles that it is almost impossible to believe that only one, not fifteen performers appear on stage.  BRAVO!  BRAVO!  BRAVO!  Go see this show!!”  The over whelming response to the show encouraged CPT to revive it.  If you did not see it before, I urge you to go!  It is scheduled to run through October 24 in CPT’s intimate Bookstore Theatre.  

For tickets to CPT productions call 216-631-2727 or go on line to www.cptonline.org Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2009, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info

His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal (to subscribe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)