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There are two certainties about the worlds that Steven Dietz creates in his plays. They are very dark, and they are wonderful places to explore. To call his scripts multi-faceted is an understatement. In Rocket Man, which Arizona Theatre Company is producing in conjunction with ChildsPlay's production of Still Life With Iris, there are symbols and hidden meaning which still elude and haunt me, weeks after seeing the show. In Still Life..., the themes, images and layers make this a children's show that is a must-see for everyone.
Iris lives in the mystical land of Nocturno, where everyone is responsible for creating the world while we sleep. Everyone has a specific job, such as the Thunder Bottler, or the Rain Maker, or the Leaf Monitor. During their work, they are expected to keep a lookout for the perfect example of their creations, which will then be sent to the Island of the Great Goods, where Grotto and Gretta Good rule and keep a single example of the perfect leaf, or the perfect book, and so on. Iris is chosen to sail to the Island and become the perfect daughter of the Goods. To do so, she has her coat taken away from her, since everyone's memories reside in these splendid garments, and once without them, they are a tabula rasa. Iris manages to keep a button from her coat, and is haunted by the memory of her family. She then goes on a journey to discover the little girl who has lost her coat, unaware that she is searching for herself. There are many twists and subplots that follow, each more delightful and challenging than the last.
Director David Saar has mounted one of the best shows I've seen from ChildsPlay. He has created a magical world that always remains inspiring and entertaining without ever become elusive. The pacing is perfect, the use of the space inspired. His ensemble cast is almost without flaw. Mr. Saar is able to clarify both children and adult levels without going over the heads of the young or pandering to the old, an impressive feat.
The performances are generally perfect. Save for a few minor quibbles, there is no one on the stage who is misrepresenting their intricate characters or not giving consideration to their myriad of roles, from main to minor. Absolutely wonderful is Katie McFadzen as the wayward Iris. She exudes a child-like innocence that makes her both loveable and sympathetic in her plight. Perfectly cast is the exuberantly over-the-top Debra K. Stevens, who plays two parts, including the joyful pirate Annabel Lee. Ms. Stevens spares no energy in her performance. Also wonderful are D. Scott Withers and Cathy Dresbach in their three roles, especially those of Grotto and Gretta Good. Each of their characters were well-defined and totally separate, yet another impressive feat.
Well-cast and very solid in their roles were Kristen Drathman as Iris' mom, Jeff Goodman as the young Mozart, Dwayne Hartford as the Memory Mender, David Jones in his three roles, and Jere Luisi as Mr. Matternot. My only minor quibble is with Mr. Luisi, who plays Mr. Matternot a tiny bit too sinisterly for my taste, though this is such a minor point, that it only goes to prove that I'm stretching to find fault in this production.
Herberger's Center Stage is being shared with ATC and their production of Deitz' Rocket Man, but amazingly Scenic Designer Scott Weldin and Lighting Designer Rick Paulsen are able to create two visually different productions, using flats and flies and varied lighting to recreate the lands of Nocturno, the Island of the Great Goods, and the Tunnel of the Unwanted. Karen Ledger's costumes are wonderfully odd and colorful. Brian Jerome Peterson's sound design was flawless, and the magic effects designed by Steffan Soule were amazing.
I don't hand out five stars arbitrarily. This is only my third time in three years of reviewing. If you're only going to see one show this season, I'd recommend this, and beseech you to also consider seeing ATC's Rocket Man. These two Dietz plays, similar in more ways than you'd expect and imagine, are wonderful journeys of darkness and light that challenge, educate, and enthrall. Kudos to this collaboration, and to ChildsPlay in particular for creating a magical, intellectual and emotional world to explore.
Production Details:
Still Life with Iris by Steven Dietz
ChildsPlay
Herberger Theatre, Phoenix
252-8497
April 3rd-April 24th, 1998
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