'The Shadow Box' finds meaning in life and honors death

"It's all right," says the chorus of characters in Theatre~Intime's newest production, "The Shadow Box" by Michael Cristofer. But it's not.

The Tony Award-winning play examines how three terminally ill hospice patients and their families, try to make sense of their impending deaths.

They struggle to find meaning in their last moments on Earth, to leave legacies, to reassure themselves their lives were actually worth living.

It's a tough order to put on a show as emotionally charged as this, particularly for a university theater company.

The ideas in the play are so complex and yet so universal that there's a serious risk of trivialization, on the one hand, and oversimplification on the other.

But the director David Brundige '04 carefully walks the fine line between the two with his staging and presents a show that both rejoices in life and honors death.

Brundige's directorial debut at Intime is subtle and alive. He carefully orchestrates the three families' isolated dialogues, so even though they do not interact until the final scene, the audience acutely senses the commonality between the characters.

When all families appear on stage in a final dialogue, the audience realizes that even though death is a deeply personal struggle, all human beings are bound together by the same fear of death. It's how each character deals with that fear that separates them.

The power of Cristofer's writing is very difficult to reproduce on stage. It is simple and direct, funny and tragic, metaphorical and colloquial. When done well, it's authenticity sings. Poorly, it falls flat.

For the most part, the cast of "The Shadow Box" does a terrific job expressing complex emotions. The one exception may be the character Joe (John Portlock '01), one of the hospice patients. Portlock's delivery seems a bit contrived, though he articulates the simplicity and unbridled sweetness of his character very well.

Brian (Ben Rice-Townsend '05), the gay, intellectual patient, tries to rationalize his impending death, but can't hide that he's afraid.

He's obsessed with his legacy and tries to imbue the remainder of his life with meaning. Rice-Townsend expertly depicts Brian's inner-conflict. He convincingly plays the role without affectation or embellishment. His lines ring with sincerity.

Brian's ex-wife Beverly (Liz Berg '04) — a prostitute who paradoxically is the play's moral conscience — best represents Cristofer's talent, walking the tightrope between melancholy and humor.

Despite her garish clothes and requisite alcohol, Brian and the audience love her because she tells it like it is. Speaking to Mark, Brian's boyfriend, she says, "He's dying, you're pissed off, and I'm drunk."

Berg is dynamic, raw energy on stage. Her comedic timing and delivery are impeccable. She successfully avoids overacting and allows Beverly's flamboyant mannerisms to enhance and not detract from her intelligence. Her acting is incredibly forcible and passionate.

Heather Morr '03 also does a terrific job playing Joe's wife Maggie. Maggie refuses to accept Joe's terminal condition. Morr portrays Maggie's denial and desire for normalcy with freshness and humanity.

The rest of the cast also gives top-of-the-line performances, including: Barbara Luse '04 as the patient Felicity; Jeremy Chan '05 (a 'Prince' staff writer) as Joe and Maggie's son, Steve; Melissa Galvez '05 as Felicity's tormented daughter and caregiver, Agnes; Matt Leffel '05 as Mark; and Jeremy Weissman '02 as the interviewer.

Timing is another ingredient that makes "The Shadow Box" so successful. The play is even more real now after the attacks of Sept. 11. As Americans suddenly realize death isn't so remote, Cristofer's message rings even more clearly.

In Brian's words, "The universe isn't a syllogism, it's a miracle." "The Shadow Box" implores us to live our lives to the fullest with courage and passion.

"The Shadow Box"

By Michael Cristofer Directed by David Brundige '04 Theatre~Intime Nov. 15-17 (609) 258-4950