It was a daring move for New Line Theatre to open this season, of all years, with a play about someone writing a eulogy. Too many of us have had to do that, too many of us have thought we might have to do that, too many of us have thought, Oh, God, please don’t ask me to do that. It’s been a stinking couple of years, but the fact that someone was brave enough to think it was material for a play, two someones in this case, book by Brian Hill, music and lyrics by Neil Bartram, is impressive. Scott Miller, New Line’s founder and artistic director, is well known for his fearless approach to what he stages, and once again we have him grabbing life, giving it a good shake and holding it up for inspection.
Jeffrey Wright plays Tom Weaver a successful writer from a small town, and Chris Kernan is Alvin Kelby, his friend from childhood, the son of the town’s bookstore owner. Plenty of cultural references here, not surprisingly, from It’s a Wonderful Life to Tom Sawyer and on to adult magazines, set things pretty firmly in the near-present. Interestingly, the writer is the mainstream guy; his pal is the one who seemed to wander around with his head in the clouds. Tom is tasked with writing a eulogy for Alvin, who appears not as a ghost but as a character in Tom’s head, reminiscing over the past.
But the focus is not on deciding what to say and what not to say in the eulogy. The focus is on Tom’s success and his writer’s block. He was blocked before Alvin’s death, and he’s still blocked as he tries this. Success has gradually turned him into rather a sod, despite his old friend’s continuing affection for him.
Wright turns in a fine performance as Tom Weaver, and Chris Kernan is easy and natural as the hometown guy. Miller is at the keyboard, styling himself “The New Line Pandemic Band”. He directed the show, too. I particularly liked “Mrs. Remington”, a nice tribute to teachers.
Rob Lippert’s set is a delight, as his often are. Lights come from Kenneth Zinkl, and the props masters – there are a lot of books on the set – is Alison Helmer.
All that said, this is a script that badly needs tightening. It runs about 90 minutes without intermission, but another 10 minutes of editing would benefit things immensely. And I do wish it had focused more directly on the creation of eulogies in general, at least in passing. A tip of the black hat to those who have had to write them.
The Story of My Life
through October 23
New Line Theatre
Marcelle Theater
3310 Samuel Shepard Drive
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