Desire Under the Elms
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Robinson, Nadege
Photo by ENCI
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By Joseph N. Feinstein
When Eugene O'Neill's landmark play first opened in New York in 1924, it was closed within days on obscenity charges. The case went through the courts, and the obscenity charges were dropped and the play was permitted to continue. Two years later when the troupe came to Los Angeles, it faced the same charges all over again, only to receive clearance to run, once more.
Now, almost a century later, the sexual connotations and content seem tame compared to many other plays, but for sheer power and performance, the production now appearing at the Odyssey Theatre through July 29 is first-rate and deserves your attention.
One of the departures from tradition producers Ron Sossi, Beth Hogan, and the Saint/Hayden Company have taken is to cast the play with black actors. They are actors of rare skill and consummate artistry: Charlie Robinson as Ephraim, the lead and father whose statement, "God's lonesome, ain't he? God's hard and lonesome!" will resonate with you long after you leave the theater; David Batiste as the mournful Eben, whose only hope is to get rid of his step-brothers and buy out their share of the farm; and Nadege August as Abbie Putman, the young wife father finds to replace his dead second wife, whose schemes and manipulations form the crux of the play's action. Dig Wayne and Ernest Harden Jr. give outstanding, if rather brief, performances as Simeon and Peter, Ephraim's sons from his first marriage. O'Neill even has the ghost of Ephraim's second wife, Eben's mother, make two appearances to add some "spook" to the tense, unhappy proceedings.
Greed, mendacity, incest, lust, sibling rivalry, murder, and love are among O'Neill's delicate subjects. Here, these topics are handled with great strength, conviction, and determination by a most able case, which is admirably directed by Jeffrey Hayden, whose previous directorial work for theater includes Arthur Miller, Neil Simon and August Wilson.
Charles Erven's set is a antique lover's paradise. It includes authentic-looking farm implements and furniture from the 19th century, indicative of the play's setting in 1850. His on-stage working water pump is marvelous to behold. (Warning: Don't sit too close or you'll get the spray!) Naila Sanders' costume design deserves kudos, for Eben's pulled-high pants or Abbie's beautiful white gown are exemplary. The few fight scenes were beautifully choreographed by Dan Mojica and look very real and frightening. Terri Hung's artistry with the lights enhance the dark, brooding mood of the play.
You will have no trouble following the action of the play. But be forewarned: the accents of the performers follow the manner of Maine farmers in the mid-19th century. The audience is warned about this at the same time it was suggested that cell phones be silenced. The unusual cadences and accents of their speech become clear in a few moments. And by the end of the production, you will be happy you came to see it. They just don't write like that any more.
Desire Under The Elms Odyssey Theatre 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles 90025
Tel. 310-477-2055 www.odysseytheatre.com Plays Wednesday - Saturday @ 8:00 p.m.; Sunday @ 2:00 $24 - $26 with $5 Discount for Students and Seniors; Pay what you will on July 6.
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