Rings of the Tree (drama)

By Mahonri Stewart

Reviewed by Nan Parkinson McCulloch
On 9/11/2007

Directed by Sarah Stewart Sponsored by UVSC Department of Theatrical Arts for the Stage and Screen UVSC Blackbox Theater Saturday Matinee--8 September '07

Thoroughly Mormon Mahonri has written a Victorian fantasy/romance premised with thoroughly Mormon theology. The best selling Victorian mystery writer Anne Perry, also a Mormon, unsuccessfully attempted to combine fantasy and Mormon theology in her epic fantasy, Tathea. Fortunately, Stewart's fantasy is less serious, faster moving and highly entertaining. Rings of The Tree has broad appeal. Folks from 8 to 80, especially feminists and young women will enjoy the play.

The story takes place in the Victorian mansion of the lovely, but lonely, Diana Applesong as she endures her self-imposed, reclusive existence. Her only contacts with the outside world are her faithful servants Manchester Lyons, his son Roman and daughter Jacquelyn. She has two frequent house guests, Colin and Echo who live away from the mansion, but come and go throughout.

It would have been helpful in setting the mood of the play if Diana had spoken her lines more slowly. I didn't get the feel for her slow-paced cloistered lifestyle, because there was so much activity and so many people entering and exiting. Having attempted to write plays, I fully recognize the difficulty of creating interesting and unobtrusive exits and entrances that don't consist of actor #1 exiting right as actor #2 enters. Trimming some of the dialogue could have helped the beginning and the prolonged ending.

Diana's servant Jacquelyn sneaks three trusted friends: Truman, Felicity and Lane into the mansion and reveals some of the mystery surrounding her employment. When the outsiders are discovered, Diana, quite out of character, abruptly hires these three young people and allows them to stay in the mansion. This strains credulity. But, the three new servants are delightful and do liven up the place. Serving this intriguing mistress is never devoid of excitement. The action and fight scenes were well staged, though the actors sometimes showed anticipation, lessening the impact of surprise.

SPOILER ALERT

Diana admits to the new staff that she and her acquaintance Colin are immortals. Echo, Colin's daughter, is only half immortal, since her mother was a mortal. She can only live a few hundred years. For centuries Colin has professed his love for Diana, while she holds him at a distance. Echo seems to disrespect her father, but tries to advise, forewarn and befriend impervious Diana. Truman and Diana take an immediate liking to each other and create a bond of trust that escalates into love. When Truman declares his affection, Diana confesses her past history. She has loved and lost two husbands and many children. She can't bear to love and lose again. Manchester is the keeper of a powerful secret and he plans to pass that guardianship on to his faithful son Roman when he dies. Roman loves Echo and would do anything to win her love. Who could write fantasy without symbolism and Stewart has served it up in abundance. We find ourselves searching to identify Holy and Heavenly persons holding the keys to our Eternal Life and their own. And we are introduced to those, otherworldly, who would thwart that plan.

The thought provoking plot twists and turns make the play interesting and keep the audience fully engaged. This is a play you can't leave at the theater, you take it home with you. Stewart has a gift for writing dialogue. His conversations are well thought out and go a long way in developing the characters. For an ensemble cast, I found all the characters surprisingly well developed.

As a frequent theatergoer and an actor, I tend to get a little picky and have to restrain myself in my reviews. However, it was hard to ignore the too small couch, Colin's ill-fitting costume and the work boots the two male leads tried to pass off as period. Colon required elegance from head to toe. These items were a bit distracting. I haven't seen such inappropriate footwear since Thom Duncan wore his black loafers as King George in A Joyful Noise.

This premier production of award winning playwright Mahonri Stewart's senior project, Rings of the Tree, is the first such project approved by UVSC since adding this new four year degree in theater. It was a significant event and a remarkable achievement for Stewart, the talented cast and the university. I was sincerely moved by Mahonri's play, which left it's unique ring around me.


Copyright 2007