By: Janet Preus
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Melancholy Play publicity photo
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The Question: Are we as a culture unable to appreciate what is appealing and satisfying about melancholy? Have we lost the sensuality to be melancholy? We’re angry, bitter, disappointed, depressed, sad – but melancholy? While we might agree there is nothing particularly attractive about people who are depressed or “down” or sad, what of the archaic and romantic notion of melancholy? Are images of someone artistic, foreign, or intellectual springing up? Is melancholy now archaic? Has it gone the way of all the neo-classicist humours? Does anyone even use the word “melancholy” any more?
Oh, never mind. I didn’t mean to over analyze a perfectly simple premise for a quirky little play running through next weekend at the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater. Local theater company 3 Sticks offers up an amusing “what if” on the subject of melancholy with Sarah Ruhl’s Melancholy Play.
It’s not melancholy at all. It is even laugh out loud funny at times with its slightly-disconnected-from-reality story, and 3 Sticks’ accomplished facility with physical comedy. It’s about a deeply melancholic woman named Tilly. (Does that sound like a melancholic name to you?) Everyone falls in love with her and then she becomes happy, which ruins everything. Almost. It’s a comedy, so it all comes out in the end. You’ll be surprised by how logical it all seems!
I was, however, disappointed with the ending. There was absolutely no logic for coupling everyone. It seemed like a nod to bi-sexuality as fashionable and it didn’t work. My companion at this performance and I agreed on this.
3 Sticks founders Katie Melby as Tilly and Jason Bohon as Frank anchor the capable ensemble cast, which includes Katie Kaufmann, Jason Ballweber and Anne Zander. I enjoyed the intimacy of the Bryant Lake Bowl’s tiny Cabaret Theater. This show, with its unit set and small cast, needed nothing more than the cast and directors inventiveness with a few set pieces and lots of hanging windows.
Melancholy Play runsThursdays, Fridays and Sundays November 8, 9, 11, 15, 16 and 18 at 7:00 pm (6:00 doors). $12-$15 (pay what you can) / $10 with a Fringe button. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/22042
Location Info:
Bryant Lake Bowl
Artist Info: 3 Sticks Theatre Company
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