This fall, the theater company Theatre22 returns to Fremont, and West of Lenin (WofL), for a second production in two years. For the second time they’ve also put Julie Beckman at the helm as director, bringing a production full of talented actors into the intimate space of our creatively adroit black box theater.
From October 23rd – November 14th, Theatre22 will present the Seattle premiere of the Pulitzer Prize winning play, ‘Water By The Spoonful,’ by Quiara Alegria Hudes, author of the Tony winning ‘In The Heights’. This time out she’s given us an imaginative and moving story in ‘Water By The Spoonful’, weaving together the stories of several lost souls, including an Iraq war veteran, and drawing for us lives in crisis, and on the brink of redemption.
Bringing Edgy To Fremont
Two years ago, at WofL, Beckman also directed ‘The 5th Of July’, the inaugural production of Theatre22. Like ‘Water…’, ‘5th Of July’ had as a central character a veteran, struggling in civilian life. “I came across the script and totally fell in love with it,” Beckman explained. She fell in love with Alegria Hudes writing, which she described as, “very lyrical. She has a really great understanding of language.” She also praised a theme of the play, “We all make mistakes; we all can move on.”
When she brought ‘Water By The Spoonful’ to Corey McDaniel, Producing Artistic Director for Theatre22, they were both chagrined to see the randomness of this parallel between the two plays – both involve veterans. In actuality, the plays are very different works, with different messages.
“I was shocked that it had never been produced before in Seattle,” Beckman also observed about ‘Water…’ It has never been produced on Broadway either, although most selected for the Pulitzer first were seen there. Beckman can’t say for sure why this powerful drama, with its challenging acting roles, hasn’t been more widely produced. “Maybe one reason it didn’t play in New York,” Beckman mused, “is its diverse cast. It may be too edgy.” Yet, it wasn’t too edgy for Beckman, McDaniel or Fremont.
Intimacy & Isolation
Producing this work at WofL may be ideal. Unlike Broadway theaters, a small space like WofL gives audiences with a chance to see the play – and its players – close-up.
“One of the things that is offered by a small space is intimacy,” Beckman said. Nobody sits twenty-five rows back from the action, and the emotion, juggling their opera glasses. Yet, within this play, characters are isolated figuratively, “a significant portion of the play takes place in an on-line chat room,” Beckman explained, with the characters reaching across miles through the internet to seek anonymous intimacy.
Still, staging the play at WofL isn’t the easiest. As Beckman observed, “small space challenges the creativity.” Staging ‘Water…’ depended on the talents of set designer Montana Tippett, and lighting designer Tristan Roberson, to create isolation among characters physically distant, but growing closer. “We were meeting for months,” Beckman said about working with Tippett and Roberson, as they researched platforms and islands. As to the solution they found, the Director observed, “I feel it’s going to be very powerful.”
A Journey Enjoyed
WofL, as a black box theater space, can be configured in dozens of different ways and for ‘Water By The Spoonful,’ Beckman explained, “the set we’ve decided to go with is almost done in the round,” so audience see everything, but different seats give different sights. “Each audience member will have a different perspective,” Beckman acknowledged.
Beckman doesn’t worry about the challenges this could pose to her cast. “We have a perfect cast,” Beckman observed, “extremely talented. It’s a great vehicle for every one of these actors. It’s just a great marriage.” Alegria Hudes has created a diverse collection of characters, which gave Beckman a diverse cast to work with.
Beckman selected some actors based on her familiarity with their work. When she contacted Rose Cano about playing Odessa, Cano had just attended a conference where she read a translation of the play, in Spanish, and almost instantly decided she wanted to produce it. (This led to a partnership between Cano’s company, eSe Teatro, ACT Theatre and Theatre22, producing readings of the play trilogy that includes ‘Water…’) For this production, Beckman also contacted G. Valmont Thomas, although she didn’t know him well, and she couldn’t know how he’d long wanted the role after having to turn it down at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival due to scheduling conflicts.
Beckman held open casting calls for the other five parts, and she feels fortunate in all her choices. For the veteran Elliot, Beckman found Jany Bacallao, a young actor whom she described as, “phenomenally talented. I think this is going to be great exposure for him.” Keiko Green is another underexposed talent that Beckman believes is due for her breakout. “I think everyone is going to know her name!” As to the scenes between the relatively new actress and Thomas, a veteran performer, Beckman said they are, “really electric!”
“I think all of these actors are deserving of a showcase,” Beckman observed. “It feels easy to be there, in that space, with them,” Beckman observed about the emotional journey of the performance, “Their journey is one I enjoy.”
‘Deep With Moments Of Humor’
“This play is really moving – it’s funny, it’s sad, it’s very hopeful,” Beckman explained, “a perfect blend of the deep, with moments of humor.”
See this play – winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama – in its premiere in Seattle at West of Lenin, while you can. Tickets can be purchased in advance through Brown Paper Tickets, with a pay-what-you-can performance scheduled for Thursday, October 22nd at 8p.
Also, consider seeing members of this cast in two special readings of the pre-quel play, ‘Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue’ at WofL on November 2nd at 7:30p. (Purchase tickets through Brown Paper.) And, in another reading, translated into Spanish, at ACT Theatre on November 11th at 7:30p, with tickets available through the ACT website.
Related Articles
- With ‘5th Of July’ Theatre22 Launches In Fremont
- by Kirby Lindsay, September 30, 2013
- A Second SOAP Fest For Fremont
- by Kirby Lindsay, May 26, 2015
- Walker & Epstein Discuss ‘Master Harold… And The Boys’
- by Kirby Lindsay, March 22, 2013
©2020 Kirby Lindsay Laney. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.