Thursday, March 28, 2024

Faith, Hope, But Too Much Solidarity. STAGE REVIEW: “Believers” by Ken Jaworowski

If you’ve ever wondered, “Where is God when tragedy befalls a good person?” then “Believers,” Ken Jaworowski’s tense drama, might be your kind of play.

Believing in a deity who refuses to step in has been a timeless topic ever since The Book of Job posited, “Why do the righteous suffer?” More recently, Harold Kushner tackled this issue in “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” [1981]. When Rabbi Kushner’s son Aaron [1963 —1977] was born with a cureless disease, his first response was, “Why, God? Why me?” God is a hot topic with the two teenagers who start the play on the campus of a Christian college. When Donna says she is a theology major with a minor in philosophy, it seems natural to suppose this 19-year-old is better equipped than most to find solutions and take comfort in spirituality. She explains to the guy she’s flirting with that she once prayed to God to foil her rapist; the fortunate outcome, seen as divine intercession, caused her to become a Christian.

A promising young couple is juxtaposed with their older counterparts. L-R: Allison Linker, Ben Sumrall, Tony Travostino and Mary Lauren in "Believers" by Ken Jaworowski, directed by Alex Dmitriev and presented by Workshop Theater Company, from September 25 to October 7. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.
A promising young couple is juxtaposed with their older counterparts. L-R: Allison Linker, Ben Sumrall, Tony Travostino. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

 

The script toggles back and forth, presenting a young couple, Christian and Donna, during the 1990s (portrayed by Ben Sumrall and Allison Linker), then twenty years later (portrayed by Tony Travostino and Mary Lauren). The newlyweds subsisted on a diet of spaghetti and tolerated a crummy walk-up when Christian was bent on winning an art competition and Donna toiled as a low-paid counselor. After scoring this prestigious prize, Christian accepts a corporate job, stops painting, and upgrades their lifestyle. Alas, twenty years later, when the couple tries to start a family, the unthinkable happens.

Donna (Mary Lauren) and Chris (Tony Travostino) are holding on to the best moment of their lives.  Photo by Gerry Goodstein.
Donna (Mary Lauren) and Chris (Tony Travostino) are holding on to the best moment of their lives. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

The first scene is the best. The tension is realistic, playful, and engaging. Christian should not be in her dorm room, but he is. Donna, adorned with a crucifix and garbed in a dainty white dress, alternates between tempting and rebuking him until they both give in.

All the 1990s scenes are hopeful, looking forward to better times, whereas the present day scenes spiral downward into inexorable sadness and despair. By alternating past and present, scene after scene, the playwright attempts to keep his audience engaged. But the two halves don’t complement each other.

Dona (Mary Lauren) is giving Chris (Tony Travostino) a solution to the challenge of their child's disability. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.
Dona (Mary Lauren) is giving Chris (Tony Travostino) a solution to the challenge of their child’s disability. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

Moreover, there’s little dramatic tension in the 1990s scenes; despite their poverty and lack of options, the couple does not argue. They are unfailing polite, considerate, united in their goals. The struggle the artist is going through never seems to exasperate his wife. If there are no conflicts, what’s the point of these scenes?

Donna (Mary Lauren) and Chris (Tony Travostino) are facing the truth about their child. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.
Donna (Mary Lauren) and Chris (Tony Travostino) are facing the truth about their child. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

Curiously, there’s even less dramatic tension during the present day scenes; powerless in the face of misfortune, the couple merely reacts to it. When the wife reveals her horrifying “final solution,” the husband protests only slightly before agreeing to it. Except for an external force that causes misery, their relationship is so harmonious it makes you yawn.

The happy couple Donna (Mary Lauren) and Chris (Tony Travostino), are having a baby who is going to study in Harvard, or not... Photo by Gerry Goodstein.
The happy couple Donna (Mary Lauren) and Chris (Tony Travostino), are having a baby who is going to study in Harvard, or not… Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

Perhaps aware of this, Jaworowski occasionally manufactures false tension. For example, there’s an odd moment, after Donna gives birth, when her husband insists on starting a college fund for Christian Jr. for “when he goes to Harvard.” Out of nowhere, Donna challenges him, insisting her son will not go there. Since it’s weird for her to be in such high dudgeon over the word Harvard — — and who picks a fight over tuition in the delivery room? — — it falls flat.

Chris (Tony Travostino) is facing his choices and the consequences. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.
Chris (Tony Travostino) is facing his choices and the consequences. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

From January 15-17, 2015, three workshop performances of this play (then titled “Christian”) were presented with Katie Braden, Allison Linker, Ben Sumrall, Tony Travostino. Since Mr. Sumrall has been with this role for some time, it was surprising to see how flat his performance was. Being a painter with no income caused no agitation. However, as the older Christian Hodges, Mr. Travostino fully embraces the part; there is a pause and a hesitation to his words that shade the tormented man in fascinating ways. As young Donna, feisty Allison Linker drives each scene she’s in, using her physicality well. Sadly, Mary Lauren’s performance, which should rightly break your heart, is brittle; she speaks the language of woe but its nuances are missing.

Donna (Mary Lauren) and Chris (Tony Travostino) thinking of their baby's laugh and smile to convince them everything is going to be ok. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.
Donna (Mary Lauren) and Chris (Tony Travostino) thinking of their baby’s laugh and smile to convince them everything is going to be ok. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

 

The spare set, with matching wooden benches, served its purpose, although there was no visual distinction between the roach-infested walk-up young Donna jokes about and the ritzy condo the older couple nests in. The masterpiece Christian creates on his easel is never seen.

Donna (Allison Linker) and Chris (Ben Sumrall) face challenges to his art career. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.
Donna (Allison Linker) and Chris (Ben Sumrall) face challenges to his art career. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

Despite having a developmental workshop, “Believers” feels like a work-in-progress that is hinting at something that could carry intellectual weight and a stronger emotional charge. Though the situation intrigues, the characters are too insubstantial and far too agreeable to keep our interest. The dialogue, though sometimes clever, is anemic and the crucial questions about faith and believing are merely waltzed around.

Donna (Allison Linker) a high-spirited theology major of passionate religious temperament, is feeling her faith challenged for the first time.  Photo by Gerry Goodstein.
Donna (Allison Linker) a high-spirited theology major of passionate religious temperament, is feeling her faith challenged for the first time. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

Director Alex Dmitriev keeps the pace going. Costume designer Catherine Siracusa makes some interesting choices. Since playwright Ken Jaworowski is a staff editor for The New York Times, look for a good review there.

The young promising couple Donna (Allison Linker) and Chris (Ben Sumrall) moving in together.  Photo by Gerry Goodstein.
The young promising couple Donna (Allison Linker) and Chris (Ben Sumrall) moving in together. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.
Donna (Mary Lauren) enjoys a short moment as a normal mom.  Photo by Gerry Goodstein.
Donna (Mary Lauren) enjoys a short moment as a normal mom. Photo by Gerry Goodstein.

 

— — — — — — — WorkShop Theater, 312 West 36th Street, New York, NY will present the play’s world premiere run from September 25 to October 17, 2015 directed by Alex Dmitriev. — — — — — — —

Linda Ann Lo Schiavo
Linda Ann Lo Schiavo
Native New Yorker LindaAnn Loschiavo has been on the staff of L’IDEA since 1996 and coordinated L’IDEA’s 25th Silver Annniversary Extravaganza. Her works for the stage include “Courting Mae West,” which has been seen in New York City theatres and most recently in Melbourne, Australia. Her writing has appeared in “Anti-Italianism: Essays on a Prejudice” [Macmillan, 2011] as well as numerous magazines, literary journals, and newspapers. Her forthcoming book “Flirting with the Fire Gods” will be published by L’IDEA Press later this year. Loschiavo is the Editor for the English Language section of L”IDEA.

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