Review: 'The Laramie Project'
Detroit Ensemble ends season and leaves Roseville on high note
The horrific murder of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard in October 1998 brought the community of Laramie, Wyoming under intense scrutiny. To much of the outside world, Laramie became the Hate Crime Capitol of the World; to many of its residents, however, it was a place where the motto "Live and Let Live" reigned supreme.
The reality, as the Tectonic Theater Project discovered, was far more complex Ð as shown by the powerful and groundbreaking drama, "The Laramie Project," that closes the Detroit Ensemble Theatre's current season.
Playwright Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project made six visits to Laramie over a period of a year and a half, conducting more than 200 interviews with the town's residents. What they found was a community in which friendships were no more than "one degree of separation" from each other, yet often worlds apart in how they reacted to Matthew's savage beating Ð and the media circus that immediately followed.
The results of those interviews were condensed, mixed with court documents and flavored with the reactions of the interviewers to become one of the most talked about docudramas of all time.
Why that is, is easy to explain.
Rather than simply retell the Matthew Shepard story in their own words, the creators of "The Laramie Project" allow the townsfolk to tell their own tale. This isn't so much Matthew's story as it is theirs; the insight they provide into the minds of a community is stunning.
Approximately four dozen "characters" make an appearance, including the local Catholic priest, Father Roger Schmit, who implores the playwrights to "only tell what is true."
And they did Ð warts and all.
Words are always the playwright's ally, but with "The Laramie Project," words can also be its greatest enemy. That's because there's little action built into the script; the authors rely on the tremendous power of their words Ð and the skills of the actors Ð to keep the audience focused.
What that requires, then, is a creative director who instinctively "feels" the ebbs and flows built into the script Ð and who has the power to physically translate them into an attention-getting production that never meanders.
It also means that the director must choose a talented cast of actors who can bounce from one unique character to another in the blink of an eye. Failure to do can only lead to confusion.
For his production, Rich Goteri retains the eight-person cast Kaufman conceived for the original production. (Some directors expand the cast to a dozen or more.) That was a wise move Ð given the tight space with which he has to work.
As each actor is called upon to play a half dozen or more characters Ð and they never leave the stage except at intermission Ð they are dressed plainly: Each enters wearing a white shirt and black pants. To become a new character they change their voices, modify their mannerisms and add a simple costume piece or prop; it's a concept that works well with this production.
But to truly succeed, "The Laramie Project" must have actors who never waiver switching back and forth among their many roles, and who are always believable, human and honest with their portrayals. And the potential is there for every actor to have several memorable, powerful roles.
In Goteri's production, one such actor is Michael Gillespie who brings levity to the role of limo driver Doc O'Connor and venom to Fred Phelps. As prisoner Andrew Gomez he cuts to the chase with valuable insight, while he shades bartender Matt Galloway with many layers.
Also notable is Brian Robinette who has the unenviable task of making perpetrators Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney seem human. But it's in the role of college student Jedadiah Schultz that Robinette especially shines. This is a man who experiences true growth as a result of Matthew's execution, and it's a maturation we plainly see.
Although "The Laramie Project" is one of the best shows staged so far by the struggling DET, it failed on opening night to live up to its full potential. Several actors excruciatingly bobbled their lines Ð most noticeably during the second act Ð which dampened the show's flow and dramatic tension. Fix that, and there won't be a dry eye in the house!
"The Laramie Project" Presented Friday through Sunday by the Detroit Ensemble Theatre, 25213A Gratiot, Roseville, through June 18. Tickets: $15. 888-220-8471. http://www.detroitensembletheatre.com.
The Bottom Line: The Detroit Ensemble moves to Ferndale this summer after closing a production near and dear Ð and generally well executed Ð by co-founder and director Rich Goteri.
Reminder: 2005 Planet Ant Film and Video Festival
Festival brings worldwide films and videos to Detroit
The third annual Planet Ant Film & Video Festival hits the screen June 16 through 19 at multiple high-profile venues, including Hamtramck's Planet Ant Theatre and Detroit's Majestic Theatre.
The 2005 Planet Ant Film and Video Festival is a celebration of independent movies and the people who make them, featuring comedies, dramas, documentaries, animation and music videos from Detroit and around the world. Industry professionals and university and film school faculty will take part in the panel of judges, workshops and seminars with an awards ceremony wrapping up the festival.
Planet Ant Theatre is determined to make this film festival an exciting part of Detroit's creative scene, filling a void that has existed far too long in a city known to be one of the top centers of filmmaking in the country.
Confirmed jurors include Larry Joe Campbell ("According to Jim," ABC), Josh Funk ("Wild 'N Out," MTV), Keegan-Michael Key ("Mad TV," Fox), Charles F. Cirgenski ("Stardust", HBO) and John Maxwell (director of the 2003 and 2004 Planet Ant Film Festivals).
Scheduled films include the North American premiere of "FAQ" (Spain), "Crushed" (USA), the world premiere of "2 Years" by Larry Joe Campbell and "Serious Fitness" (Russia).
The eclectic band Quasar Wut-Wut will provide the soundtrack to Buster Keaton's silent film, "The General" Ð called one of the greatest comedies of all time.
The 2005 Planet Ant Film and Video Festival is adding more programming and special events every day so check http://www.planetant.com for a complete schedule.
