The Road to Mecca
Miners Alley Playhouse: 3/28
– 5/4
Seated is Deborah Curtis with Miriam BC Tobin and Tim Fishbaugh above
Although the opening moments
of Athol Fugard’s “The Road to Mecca” are a little bit slow in setting the
stage for his masterful if somewhat verbose play, anyone staying the course
will be immersed in a truly rich and rewarding work of Art.
The deft direction by
Len Matheo elicits very fine performances from his three-person cast. The
acting of Deborah Curtis in the part of Miss Helen is as reflectively
descriptive of the soulful innovative character of this aging artist as is the glittering
scenic design describing the interior of her rustic South African home. The set
created by Peggy Morgan Stenmark shimmers and shines,illuminated by the
lighting design of Jonathan Scott-McKean.
Tim Fishbaugh portrays
Marius Byleveld, the voice of conformity and dogmatic persecution with
relentless self-righteousness. Although he says he wants to protect Miss Helen
by enrolling her in a church-run home for the aged, one somehow hears the echo
of that Rodgers and Hammerstein lyric about folk who wish to “protect you out
of everything you’ve got.”
If a touch too
strident than one might wish in her delivery at the top of the play, Miriam BC
Tobin quickly finds a level of balance in her otherwise superb performance.
This play has much to
say regarding aging in place, artistic integrity and apartheid.
Deborah Curtis gives
real power to playwright Fugard’s words about the internal inspiration and
torture of the creative artist in this heartfelt performance.
On the evening that
this reviewer was in attendance the valiant cast forged on through a couple of
unfortunate cell phone interruptions.
Nevertheless … not even this jangling interference could be able to shake
the memory of such an indelible evening of humanistic theatre.
Miners Alley
“The Road to Mecca”
Mar. 28 - May 4
Fri. and Sat. @ 7:30
p.m.; Sun @ 6 p.m. (2 p.m. on Sun., May 4)
$23
Miners Alley
Playhouse, 1224 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401
303-935-3044 or online
at minersalley.com
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