By John Quinn
Review: 'Tape'
Memory or Memorex? 'Tape' challenges perceptions
For so small a play, "Tape" covers a lot of ground.
It has only three characters, one set and runs without intermission. Yet the program cover bears an intriguing quote, "Am I who you think I am?" Were that the only theme, it would be enough to satisfy most playwrights, but Stephen Belber, one of the contributors to "The Laramie Project," didn't stop there. He explores perception and memory, self-identity and guilt, all in the context of a hot-button issue – date rape. "Tape" examines how time distorts memory, how perception is subjective.
Breathe Art Theatre Project, in partnership with 1515 Broadway, launches its 2005-2006 Cross-Border Season with this contemporary drama, directed by Demetri Vacratsis. "Tape" was an entry in the Humana Festival of Louisville, Ky., in 2000. Belber commented how this play was influenced by "The Laramie Project," written about the same time. "We base so much of our lives on our perceptions, and when you're confronted with a varying perception of that reality, you have to re-evaluate everything."
It's a deceptively simple plot. "Tape" is about the reunion of Vince and Jon at a film festival in Lansing, where they both grew up. Jon's film is featured at the festival; Vince, now a burned-out drug dealer in California, is there to "support" his best buddy. As these two reminisce about past times and where their lives have gone in 10 years, Vince's true motive emerges – he wants to know what happened the night Jon "slept with" Vince's girl friend, Amy. Was it just sex, or was it rape? The self-righteous Jon only remembers "rough sex," but Vince's relentless attack forces him to admit it was worse.
Whoa! Vince has captured the confession on tape. Double whoa! He's also invited Amy to drop by the motel. Amy still lives in Lansing, where she's an assistant prosecuting attorney. What are HER memories of that night? (A rape victim turned attorney – I smell subtext!)
At its best, Belber's dialogue reflects the best of modern, "slice of life" drama; at its worst, to quote Vince's complaint about Jon's rantings, it "…sound[s] mature, but contain[s] nothing."
Under Vacratsis, the cast avoids the pitfalls that could turn this into tepid soap opera. The young cast – Hilberry alums Chris Roady and Lisa Betz as Jon and Amy, Windsor's Dylan MacDonald as Vince – do an admirable job keeping it real.
Now in its second year, Breathe Art Theatre Project is a collaboration of Windsor/Detroit actors, directors and designers. Its mission is "to advance the spirit of contemporary social theater." The number of new theater companies hereabouts willing to accept the challenge of producing provocative, largely unknown dramas heralds a welcome maturity in the local art scene.
It looks like it's going to be an interesting season.
"Tape," by Breathe Art Theatre Project, runs Thu.-Sat. through Sept. 24 at 1515 Broadway in downtown Detroit. $10 & $18. 313-965-1515.
The Bottom Line: The plot device of this gritty drama is unreliable memory, which forces a re-evaluation of our own long-held beliefs.
Tidbits: Theater News from Around Town
BoarsHead Dark Night; Planet Ant Cinema; JARC event; Mosaic film
By Donald V. Calamia
ITEM: The BoarsHead Theatre launches its 2005/06 Dark Night Series Sept. 19-20 with Jane Martin's "Talking With," a play that shares moments in the life of 10 different women.
Performances begin at 7 p.m. and admission is by donation. All proceeds are going to the Michigan fund for survivors of hurricane Katrina.
For ticket information, call 517-484-7805 or log on to http://www.boarshead.org.
Planet Ant's Late Night Cinema Series returns with six favorite short films from the 2005 Planet Ant Film & Video Festival, including "Lily's Detroit" by director Kevin Leeser, "Stephens & Thomas D.D.S." by directors Nate DuFort and Tara Nida and "Greg Likes Me" by director Margaret Edwartowski.
The films run Thu.-Sat. at 10:30 p.m. through Sept. 24. Admission is only $5.
Planet Ant Theatre is located at 2357 Caniff in Hamtramck.
For complete information, call the Ant at 313-365-4948 or log on to http://www.planetant.com.
Michigan's largest single-event, single-organization fundraiser hits the Fabulous Fox Theatre Oct. 6 when JARC presents "An Evening of Comedy and Music with Martin Short."
The non-profit group's 25th annual fundraiser supports services for people with developmental disabilities, including 20 group homes and independent living programs located in southern Oakland County, as well as services to hundreds of families that have a child with disabilities living at home.
Showtime is 7:30 p.m.; tickets begin at $60 each.
A highlight of the evening is the pre-glow Young Adult Martini Party for those ages 21 to 40. Cocktails and supper will be catered by Matt Prentice's Milk and Honey. Admission is free with a ticket to the show.
For tickets or information, call JARC at 248-538-6610 ext. 418 or log online to http://www.jarc.org.
Follow a year in the life of the world renowned Mosaic Youth Theatre in the new documentary, "And They Flew…The Story of Mosaic Youth Theatre" on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Detroit Film Theatre.
The documentary is a behind-the-scenes examination of the Detroit-based art organization from its humble beginnings to it stellar achievements. The inspiring program includes special insight into the devoted artists and staff members who have, over the past 12 years, brought a unique artistic experience to youths in Detroit.
"And They Flew…" is a co-production of Michigan Television and Detroit-area filmmakers Katherine Weider and Felicia Jamieson, with Harvey Ovshinsky as executive producer. The program will be aired locally on Michigan television, and plans are underway for broadcast on PBS stations throughout the country.
The Detroit Film Theatre is located at 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit, with entry to the theater off John R. Road. Parking is available in the John R. lot adjacent to the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Admission is "pay what you can" – although a donation of $5 is suggested.
For further information, call Jennifer White at 810-762-3028, ext. 102.
