Reviewed by Judy Richter
Three generations of women
celebrate holidays at the family's coastal cottage, watch birds, bicker and
look ahead in Anthony Clarvoe's "Our Practical Heaven," being given its world
premiere by Berkeley's Aurora Theatre Company.
Clarvoe's
two-act play is the main stage anchor production of Aurora's eighth annual Global
Age Project,
which fosters 21st century play development. It features excellent acting
thanks to such Bay Area treasures as Joy Carlin, who plays Vera, the family's
widowed matriarch; Anne Darragh, who plays Sasha, Vera's daughter; and Julia Brothers, who plays Willa, whom Sasha
considers an honorary sister. With them are three young up-and-comers: Blythe
Foster as Suze
and Adrienne Walters as Leez, Sasha's daughters; and Lauren Spencer as Magz, Willa's daughter.
Perhaps
because Sasha is so uptight, her daughters don't especially like her. While
sitting next to each other, they communicate their feelings about her via text
messages, which are projected onto the back of Mikiko Uesugi's set. Willa, who overcame lowly
beginnings to become a successful businesswoman, is mostly level-headed, but
she's greatly concerned about Magz, who has an autoimmune disorder that often
leaves her in severe pain.
Despite
the excellent acting and Allen McKelvey's direction, the play can feel vague. It needs
more background to clarify why some of the characters are the way they are.
Some details seem sketchy, as do issues like the threat of global warming.
Still, there are some lovely scenes, especially the one in which Carlin's Vera
talks to Leez about the specialized functions of feathers she has collected.
The
production benefits from Callie Floor's costumes, Michael Palumbo's lighting and Clifford
Caruthers'
sound. Chris Black served as dance consultant.
The
play went through much work after being given a reading as part of the 2011
Global Age Project. Some more work is needed for it to reach its full promise.