RSS 2.0 FeedOctober 19, 2011, Theatre
Living magically
"The Year of Magical Thinking," directed by Michael Grayman, is a refreshing interpretation of Joan Didion’s taut emotional account of grief and survival. The joint production between the Spinning Tree and Living Room Theatres is anchored by Peggy Friesen.
Setting out for an evening to see Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking inspired a feeling similar to fear. This is a one-woman show confronting the intense grief and consciously imposed self-delusion following the abrupt deaths of Didion’s husband, John Dunne, and subsequently their daughter. Would the audience weep en masse as we were led through the unthinkable, albeit true, events? Would the theatre have thought to strategically place boxes of tissue? Didion is not known for lighthearted fare.
These were the issues that seemed to matter as the play began.
Taking note of the set, a single beach chair among a stage of sand and an unadorned sky blue backdrop, was strangely calming. Peggy Friesen, a diva of local theatre, then took the stage, digging her toes into the sand as she began spinning the tale of loss with grace, reminding the audience “that life changes fast. Life changes in an instant.” Which it did. As she ushered the audience through imagined emergency rooms and ICUs with stoicism (and subtle nostalgic tangents), I no longer wanted to cry for this woman; I wanted her to succeed. With well timed, self-deprecating humor, Friesen floated through the monologue nearly effortlessly, reigning in her emotions where she—or someone less able—could have easily slipped into overwrought melodrama.
The venue is well suited for the intimacy of the piece. As Friesen unloads her story to the audience, seated around the stage in chairs and on couches, the strong impression is that of an old friend reconnecting; hearing her share the last year’s events is sad, but comforting. The slight use of sound design throughout the play helps create a sense of immersion into the places Friesen describes: a bustling emergency room, barely audible as it would seem to one learning her husband is dead; the quiet rushing tide during recollections of the happiest of memories in Malibu. These carefully executed touches don’t distract the audience from Friesen’s cool delivery.
Friesen, as Didion, explains “magical thinking” early in the piece as a construct to define her circumstances as impermanent or repairable. It was impossible to ignore the ways in which we all do this—how we trick ourselves into moving on.
REVIEW
The Living Room Theatre
The Year of Magical Thinking
October 12–23, 2011 (Reviewed October 10)
The Living Room at The Pearl
1818 McGee, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call 816-221-4260 or online at www.thelivingroomkc.com
Top Photo: Peggy Friesen (Photo by Royal Scanlon)
Film, Theatre Contributor
Calli Parker studied film production and English at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. After working on various projects in Kansas City, she relocated to Los Angeles where she served as a production manager and assistant director on short and feature films. Currently residing in Kansas City, Calli continues to collaborate with the talented filmmakers and artists of the emerging arts community.
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