Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Not McMinnville’s Gallery Theatre • Oregon ArtsWatch

McMINNVILLE — “Truth and illusion. Who knows the difference, eh, toots? Eh?” George says to Nick within the third act of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.

What is a play however fact and phantasm? Woolf accommodates many lighthearted moments in addition to insufferable truths hidden inside an phantasm created by its characters — that are then created by its actors.

Allusion and phantasm. These two phrases go hand-in-hand with Woolf. Throughout the play all 4 characters allude to the heartbreaking triumphs and tragedies that they conceal from behind their facades: Martha a brash bulldozer amongst the sheep; mild-mannered George, an unprepossessing wallflower; Nick the epitome of upright ethical fortitude; and Honey, the demure and submissive little spouse.

These self-imposed lies make their lives simpler to bear. Fear of actually seeing themselves and their realities makes these pretenses so essential. On this one evening, they lastly acknowledge the ache and illusions.

Woolf is a tough play for everybody concerned. It is extraordinarily painful to look at, like driving previous the scene of an accident. The viewers turns into silent, unwilling individuals within the downfall of a home empire. Walking away from the theater you ask your self, are my relationships constructed on illusions, too?

It is three hours of emotionally overwhelming dialogue for the actors, who should painting folks whose conduct is commonly gladiatorial, their responses hyperbolic and their confessions heartbreaking. As Nick says to George, “Flagellation isn’t my idea of a good time.”

But Woolf is simply that.

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It’s one in every of my favourite performs. I like Albee’s work. His dialogue is harking back to movie noir motion pictures; it’s rapid-fire, confrontational ,and no-holds barred. Nothing stands in the way in which of the story; nothing is just too private, no subject taboo, no conduct too excessive. Albee peels the pores and skin off every character one layer at a time and doesn’t cease till he reaches bone.

The actors should create these layers, these hidden emotions and feelings, after which be capable to really feel the violation and secret reduction when they’re uncovered. All of this whereas dwelling their very own lives, feeling their very own feelings and burying these for 3 hours or extra at a time whereas the character can dwell of their flesh. This is a should when enjoying a personality in any of Albee’s performs. His work calls for that dedication.

Earlier this yr my buddy David Bates (who as knowledgeable journalist is an everyday contributor of tales to ArtsWatch) advised me that he could be directing Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at McMinnville’s Gallery Theatre, the place it might open Oct. 10 and proceed by Oct. 26, and I used to be thrilled. I’ve seen him act — he’s good — however I had by no means seen him direct, and I had not had the possibility to see this play placed on regionally.

It was a golden alternative. I began asking, “Could I please come take photos during the course of rehearsals?” When he mentioned “Yes,” I used to be thrilled. The mission started as a private one — I typically take photographs of occasions or folks only for enjoyable — however it grew to become greater than that. Witnessing the method and progress, the hassle it took to deliver these characters to life, felt like a narrative that wanted to be advised.

I dropped in for the rehearsals each two weeks or so; extra typically some weeks, much less others. There was quite a bit occurring with the forged: bouts of covid, work conflicts, different commitments, and many others.; and rehearsals needed to be adjusted. They pushed on, and the layers started to kind. Words on a web page grew to become greater than dialogue.

These 4 actors — three seasoned from years of neighborhood theater and extra, one a relative novice — started their journey early this summer time. Each rehearsal introduced new adjustments and extra complexity.

Walking into rehearsal, they started to shed their very own personalities extra shortly, adopting the demeanor and mannerisms of their characters.

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Watching Martha was breathtaking. Holly Spencer, the actor enjoying her, is a bouncy, completely satisfied, enthusiastic individual. She is devoted to this character. I’ve been round theater for years. I began my journalism profession as a theater critic. Seeing her shed her pores and skin and develop into one other individual has been a lesson in how a lot work appearing is and the hassle it requires to develop into somebody you aren’t. The distinction between her persona and that of her bombastic counterpart is a gulf bridged by expertise.

Honey is performed by Jordan Reed, a fearless, self-confident younger individual. She has a darkish humorousness and is a delight to speak to. The character of Honey is just not. She is intentionally harmless, manipulative, infantile, shifting between weak and demanding. The distinction between the 2 is stark, and the transformation is entire. The actor’s progress as a performer has been obvious and satisfying to see.

If there’s all the time a cutup in each classroom, it’s not Nick. He is stolid, indifferent and judgmental — a great Midwest boy who has grown right into a boring man. That description is the whole reverse of Reese Madden, the actor enjoying him. Madden’s all the time laughing and joking when not in character, a perpetually goofy smile on his face and a toothpick in his mouth. Finding Nick was like discovering his personal doppelganger — a tough search, however it was there, and it quickly took over.

On the opposite hand, George and Lance Nuttman, the actor who performs him, appear suited to one another in a approach. There is a gentleness in George, even at his worst, even in the course of his cruelty, which stems from a malignancy of damage, loss and betrayal, and but he nonetheless comes throughout as somebody who’s form. It is tough watching this cruelty and vindictiveness spew forth, and is painful seeing apathy and corruption overtake a great soul. Nuttman slips the character on like a glove; his kindness shines by the character. What is superb is his capacity to be so despondent, damage, and hurtful. It is kind of chic.

My buddy David has achieved a superb job of main, guiding, and pushing his gifted forged to seek out their characters inside themselves and to inhabit them totally.

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Follow alongside in photographs as rehearsals transfer from their beginnings in June by the ultimate preview efficiency of Gallery Theatre’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? on Thursday night, Oct. 9:

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• Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? opened Friday night, Oct. 10, and continues by Sunday, Oct. 26 at Gallery Theater, 210 N.E. Ford St., McMinnville, 97128.
• Directed by David Bates and stars Lance Nuttman as George, Holly Spencer as Martha, Reese Madden as Nick and Jordan Reed as Honey.
• Ticket and schedule info here.