Tom Williams

The characters act out the struggles of these small town folks as their discontent with the boredom and isolation of rural plains life renders them restless souls. High school teacher Tom Guthrie (Joseph Stearns) must raise tow boys alone since his wife leaves him after suffering depression. Guthrie also has conflicts with an unruly student, Russell Beckman (Rudy Galvan) without much help from his principal.

We also see how the two boys, Ike Guthrie (Cale Manning) and Bobbie Guthrie (Jack Edwards) cope with the loss of their mother by helping a lonely old lady.

We see several sides of Raskolnikov including his disdain for money as he gives all the cash he has to aid a woman who has just lost her father. Raskolnikov is a troubled, psychologically flawed man whose moral outrage becomes confused with his views of the capability of the ‘chosen ones’ to resort to murder to further social change.

These women have a mysterious past relationship that causes much debate about their theories regarding sex, evolution, feminism, generational divides and the status of female scientists. This is a smartly written work with biting sarcasm, intelligent ideas and deeply human observations on generational thoughts.

In the black box theatre, the play has been skillfully produced on the minimal set, with quick clever costume and character changes on stage. The cast preformed phenomenally, keeping a distinct energy in each of their characters through all of their character changes. The lead Aila Peck (Joan) brings an incredible emotion and intensity to the role, convincing you that she is the pure selfless heroin diligently performing her mission from god.

Add a cast of players with little or no concept of what they were saying – a common problem with poorly trained Shakespearean actors. Some mumbled; some raced through their speeches with little emphasis; some did both of those in so low a volume as to be not heard.

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