"Des Moines" at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center by Denis Johnson Presented by Theater for a New Audience with Evanstar Films.
Directed by Arin Arbus
"Des Moines" is the final play of the late Denis Johnson, who was also an esteemed novelist and a short story writer. This play have had many workshops and perhaps many things were cleared up but some of them still retain it's mystery, mostly confusion about its construction. Having said that, the play does hold it's intrigue for us. We are keen to know where it is leading us because the characters are very interesting and surreal.
There is a husband, Dan (Arliss Howard ) his wife, Marta (Johanna Day) having breakfast in their kitchen. Dan is a taxi driver who gave a ride to someone who died in a tragic plane crash and he is extremely traumatized by it and keep trying to remember what were the last words spoken by that un-fortunate man. Dan, actually has nightmares about it and keeps shouting during his sleep. Marta, his wife is eager and nervous to reveal some important news to her husband but doesn't have enough courage because the news is also tragic. So, she avoids the issue and they both end up talking about mundane things such as butter and margerine. Dan prefers butter. Dan has a friend who is a pastor, father Michael (Michael Shannon) who wears heavy face make up including bright lipstick and was seen by Dan outside a gay bar at the time of bar's closing.
Michael Shannon who is a brilliant actor (great performance by him in the play Killer at the same theater) is kind of wasted here. There is the couple's grand daughter Jimmy (Hari Nef ) a trans woman who's gender affirming surgery went bad and she ended up in a wheel chair. Set designer, Riccardo Hernandez created majestic French doors in the middle of the kitchen and when they open, Jimmy, whom we have not met yet appears in a wheel chair. Her rooms is beautifully lit byScott Zielinski giving us a colorful early Christmas like atmosphere. A pleasantly glamorous surprise.
The wedding ring of the person who died in the crash was given to Father Micheal and Dan is waiting for the pastor to bring it to his house because the deceased's widow, Mrs. Drink water has been visiting Dan to get her ring back.
After Pastor shows up, Dan gets the ring and Mrs. Drink Water arrives shortly after that and then the play assumes a dream like shape. I personally thought that the play was Dan's dream but I dismissed the idea soon after.
They all start to drink, and I mean some serious drinking goes on for a long while. A drink called depth charger is consumed by all. Depth charger is a drink consisting of beer mixed with a shot of strong whisky. All of them drinkk lots of depth chargers and Mrs. Drink Water (Heather Alicia Simms) even stand up on the kitchen table and sings and do dance like movements.
I was so afraid that she might hurt herself because she was so drunk like the rest of them but she was a pro and thus kept her balance.
Mind you it's not a realistic play though the beginning of the play and it's kitchen set is pretty realistic. At the end every one is smashed and they make a real mess. Then, they abruptly leave. Jimmy goes back to her make believe early arrival of bright Christmas lights, and Father Micheal also decides to call it a night.
Next morning Marta clean up the mess as she wakes up from a very strange night. In between all the confusion, there is talk of morality, the belief in life and doubts about the purpose of our existence by Father Micheal without a clear promise or hope of any kind of comforting spirtuality for our troubled souls.
It still held my interest in a an absurd way because the play is kind of absurd which is fine with me. Actors are pretty good and work very well throughout but can't solve the confusion inherent in the script.
While we were leaving some one in the elevator asked, "What was this play about?" And a wise woman answered, " Everyone was trying to get away from their pain."
BINA SHARIF
ATCA
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Email: binashariff@gmail.com
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