Thursday, November 2, 2000
By GARY BRADY-HERNDON
Register Staff Writer
NAPA
At long last, Dreamweavers community theater has a home. Located in the former Marlowe's night club in the River Park Shopping Center, the theater is currently under construction and will feature two stages. The large stage will first see action next January when Dreamweavers presents "Dracula" in the first full-scale production of the year.
On Nov. 9, a smaller "black box" stage will open the next phase in the Dreamweaver theatrical saga when the company stages "Three Viewings" by Jeffrey Hatcher. Debbie Baumann, who directs this darkly, humorous play, thinks the black box motif is perfect for the show.
"You have to listen to every word the actors say. You have to get involved," Baumann said.
The intimacy of the black box is perfect for the "Three Viewings" since all of the action takes place in the front room of a mortuary. Sets are minimal, and stage dressing is low key to allow the audience to concentrate on the actor's dialogue.
The opening monologue, "Tell-Tale," deals with an unusual love affair between one of the morticians and a local real estate agent. Emil's obsession for Tessie is the epitome of unrequited love. His thoughts and point of view are typical of a small town functionary caught in a web of boredom, passionless servitude and the itch for something more out of life. At times you feel sorry for Emil. At other times, you laugh with him and at him as he fumbles through his increasingly bizarre story.
Up next is one of the two women roles in the play, "The Thief of Tears." Mac is a thief of an unusual nature. Telling you she makes her living robbing jewelry off of corpses, right out of the coffin no less, is not giving anything away vital to the play.
From the beginning of her monologue, it is evident Mac is a disturbed and frighteningly misguided soul. Her caustic wit and dismal world view is delivered in bittersweet and surprisingly funny images. She holds herself aloof, a hard, empty vessel, truculent in her outlook on life. Hatcher teases us with hints of the her dilemma but keeps the audience in suspense to allow Mac to tell her story in the only way she knows how.
"Thirteen Things About Ed Carpolotti" finishes the trilogy with the story of Virginia. Reeling from the loss of her recently deceased husband, Virginia is beset with just about as much unexpected woe one person can withstand. Withstand she does, however, and her story is one that will make you laugh, surprise you and bring tears to your eyes.
Starring Joe Lewis, Victoria Field and Gwenneth Trice and co-directed by April Vincak, "Three Viewings" is a fitting opening for the Dreamweavers' new theater. Like the players in the monologues, they are saying good-bye to the past and looking toward to a fresh start in the future.
This would be a perfect time to preview the new Dreamweavers venue. Troupe members ask the public to please understand the necessary clutter associated with building a two stages that seat audiences of 99 and 55 respectively. Public support is crucial in these finals days of construction since this is the first production to bring in revenue since the remodeling began.
Dreamweavers is located in River Park Shopping Center at Imola Avenue and Jefferson Street in Napa. Evening shows are at 8 p.m. on Nov. 10, 11, 17 and 18. Matinee shows begin at 2 p.m. on Nov. 12 and 19. The box office opens one hour before start time. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. Reservations are recommended. Call 255-LIVE for information on ticket availability. Only cash and checks accepted.
Reporter Gary Brady-Herndon can be reached at 256-2219 or at [email protected]
From the Napa Register's website - © 2000, Pulitzer Newspapers, Inc.
