Lovechild+(plp)

Patrick Pierson October 5, 2010 THEA 2100H Dr. Richmond **Tulsa Lovechild **  //The Life and Times of Tulsa Lovechild: A Roadtrip// revolves around the story of Tulsa Lovechild, a thirty four year old woman born during the “hippie” era in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her mother has passed away and her dying wish is that her ashes be taken to the motel where Tulsa was conceived. This sets the stage for a memorable journey that leads Tulsa halfway across the country.  Upon arriving at the venue and taking my seat, my attention was immediately grabbed by the setting and the props used to convey this context. The floor of the stage was painted sky blue with clouds scattered across the area. Watching a play where the characters walk across the sky is obviously somewhat different from the majority of plays that one may see. I was also struck by the fact that a sequence of roads and road signs filled the walls, but all of these were upside down. Once again, this definitely caught my attention and I found myself scrutinizing these oddities throughout the play. The use of such a bizarre stage definitely added to the richness and uniqueness of the play. Another interesting note about the setting was that it changed very minimally throughout the play. For most of the production, the stage contained three completely different areas. One area served as the front desk for the motel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The second area served as a bedroom for the majority of the play. The third area served as a sort of rotating setting, serving many different purposes throughout the play. Due to this set up, lighting was often used to focus the audience’s attention on a particular character in a particular setting. The other areas of the stage drifted out of mind as a spotlight would be focused on a specific character located in a particular area on stage. This was a very creative way to maximize the floor space in an intimate theater setting.

 Although scene changes were minimal, the few scene changes that did occur featured a very unique twist. Just before the play began, two individuals dressed as clouds entered the stage area and took their places amongst the clouds that were painted on the floor. Every few minutes they would slink around the stage and assume a new position amidst the clouds. These individuals would reappear anytime a scene change was required, floating freely across the stage while performing their tasks. Using this type of device to effectively change sets was an aspect that I had never encountered in my previous play going experiences. The use of these individuals allowed the audience to be entertained even during the midst of “downtime” during the play, effectively engaging the audience throughout the evening.  The costumes used during this performance were also very memorable. The costume of the narrator, a Russian immigrant, struck the audience as soon as the play began. He enters wearing cowboy boots, blue jeans, a large belt buckle, an American flag button down, and a cowboy hat. Obviously, this would seem rather eccentric, even to Americans. Furthermore, this costume, combined with his Russian-accented English, was very entertaining. The purposeful presence of this costume also spoke volumes about the concept of the American dream. Seeing a Russian immigrant adorned in such patriotic flare highlights not only what the American dream represents for those born in the States, but even more so what it means for immigrants to the States from less fortunate countries.  Tulsa’s costume imprinted itself on my mind as well; not so much for its dramatic characteristics, but rather for the correlation between her outfit and her personality. Her conservative dress, wearing stockings along with a knee length skirt and sweater, coincided perfectly with her very simple, down to earth, logical, and conservative nature. The use of such a costume helped to solidify Tulsa’s persona and her feelings towards some of the more open, liberal, and free-spirited characters.  The most shocking costume was, undoubtedly, the one worn by Edward Caribou’s agent. Shortly after we learn that she has landed Edward a role in a new movie, she busts onto stage wearing a costume that is disturbing, ridiculous, and rather comical. The costume includes a fur bra and panties, straps and chains, and a plastic penis. The collective shock of the audience is sensed immediately. During the few brief minutes she spends on stage, the attention of the audience is divided between the dialogue that is occurring and the oddity of the character’s costume. While providing a notable shock factor and some giggles, the costume does distract, at least to some degree, from the attention given to the dialogue and actions taking place during this time.  For the most part, the acting was quite impressive. The character of Tulsa was played particularly well. The actress did a marvelous job of portraying the angst and inner turmoil that Tulsa encounters during her journey. This was displayed perfectly during the scene that occurs just after she has slept with Edward Caribou. Tulsa’s emotions are leading her to caring for Ed, but her rational, logical, and methodical analysis of every situation in her life conflicts greatly with these emotions. This is brought to a climax when she exclaims to Ed, “I don’t even know who you voted for!” During the production, the audience could feel this pain and distress. In our lives, the battles that occur internally are, many times, the most painful battles of all. Tulsa captures this sentiment, forcing us to look into the face of these problems and how they affect the uniquely human experience. The actress did a superb job of conveying this conflict between mind and heart, especially in the progression of her relationship with Ed.  Although I felt that the actress playing the role of Tulsa did a wonderful job in portraying the relationship with Ed, I felt that the character of Ed was forced at times. Although the actor did a good job of capturing the essential essence of Edward Caribou as a former actor searching for the meaning of life, I felt that the character was portrayed as overly dramatic at times. This was most evident in Ed’s relationship with his agent. There is no doubt that we as an audience are supposed to detect the discontent that Ed has in his interactions with this woman. However, I felt that Ed’s reactions were, at times, a little far-fetched. I had trouble believing that a person in Ed’s situation would react in the way that he did at times. Part of this issue arose from the actress playing Ed’s agent as well. Although she is clearly a flamboyant, feisty, eccentric character, I felt that it was a bit over the top. The dialogue created by the playwright may have played a role in this dramatic characterization of the role. Although the actress has no control over this area, I felt that she could have portrayed the character as slightly more realistic and made the attitude of the agent seem more believable.  As a whole, I felt that the directing of the play was done very well. Although I held a few discrepancies with the portrayal of characters such as Ed and his agent, I felt that the director clearly portrayed the message that the playwright was seeking to convey. The revelations that Tulsa experiences in her journey were clearly laid out for the audience. The actress playing the role of Tulsa was perfect for this part; she did a marvelous job in conveying the attitude of Tulsa toward her surroundings and the situations that come to pass during her journey. The progressive change in her attitude through the course of the play was clearly evident to the audience.  In summation, I enjoyed the performance and felt that, as a whole, it was played very well. While being engaging and entertaining, the performance also forced the viewer to be introspective at times. As we travel through the story with Tulsa, we are forced to confront life and its difficulties. The inner struggle to find a purpose in life’s absurdity is a crucial part of the human condition. The play embraces this challenge through a crazy plot with twists and turns throughout. This was, without question, the playwright’s intentions in creating the play. A performance that captures this idea is not only entertaining, but also challenges the audience to reflect on these issues in their own lives. This combination of fun, energy, and thought provoking ideas makes the play an enjoyable experience for all.