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Pen
By David Marshall Grant
Directed by Kurt Johns
At Apple Tree Theatre
1850 N. Green Bay Road
Highland Park, IL
Call 847-432-4335 www.appletreetheatre.com
Wednesday, Oct 1 at 7:30pm
Friday, Oct 3 at 8pm
Saturday, Oct 4 at 5 & 8:30 pm
Sunday, Oct 5 at 2 & 6 pm
Tuesday, Oct 7 at 7:30 pm
Friday, Oct 10 at 8 pm
Saturday, Oct 11 at 5 & 8:30 pm
Sunday, Oct 12 at 2 & 6 pm
Wednesday, Oct 15 at 7:30 pm
Friday, Oct 17 at 8 pm
Saturday, Oct 18 at 5 & 8:30 pm
Sunday, Oct 19 at 2 pm
Running time is 2 hours with intermission
Through October 19, 2008
“I'm supposed to leave you! I'm the only one in your life who's actually supposed to leave you.” --Matt to his Mother.
Fable about a dysfunctional family takes several strange turns.
Apple Tree Theatre presents David Marshall Grant’s flawed family drama, “Pen” featuring Chicago favorite Hollis Resnik. “Pen” is a hybrid work that moves from a realistic family drama set in 1969 about a mother-son codependency into a fable. Act two of “Pen” stretches credibility in several ways making the entire piece suffer.
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Helen (Hollis Resnik) has from MS and is confined in a wheelchair. She is a nasty, overbearing and bitter woman who smothers her 17 year old son Matt (Austin Campion) with guilt as she manipulates him into being her servant and constant companion. Her control of Matt is complete and tightly maintained. Matt is trapped and smothered by his mother. Jerry (Robert Allan Smith) is the father who divorced Helen and is now about to remarry as younger woman. He is a psychologist and self-help guru who drinks too much. He also manipulates Matt indirectly with power of suggestion. He encouraged Matt to apply to Southern Cal for college (Jerry’s school). Matt is torn between Mother and Father, between wanting to be free from his obligation to serve his mothers needs and his need for freedom. Matt’s choice to enroll in Southern Cal unleashes a series of mysterious events that defy credibility and come off as a contrivance.
Helen haunts Matt to find her pen—not just any pen, but a special pen that writes upside down—sort of a anti-gravity pen. This special pen is a symbolic device that keeps Helen in her wheelchair. Matt doesn’t tell her that he found the pen because she nags him so much. Matt uses the pen to complete his college application. When Helen realizes that Matt has her pen, she compels him to give it back. The resulting exchange sparks a dramatic physical change that rocks audiences. Act two is pure fable and as it defies belief.
Let me state that the striking event ending act one is compounded by the out of character noble act of self sacrifice by Helen toward Matt in act two. A selfish, self absorbed bitter woman like Helen doesn’t demonstrate any character trait that would motivate her to do a supreme act of kindness. This fable of a mother’s love simply doesn’t ring with any truth. “Pen” has too many gimmicks and unmotivated actions and reactions. The only saving elements in this flawed story is the fine performances from Austin Campion, Robert Allan Smith and Hollis Resnik.
Somewhat Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2008
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