"Crimes of the Heart" Explores Family Through Comedy and Drama
KEENE, N.H. 9/12/06 - The Keene State Theatre department presents Beth Henley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Crimes of the Heart, at 7:30 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday, Oct. 10-14, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Oct. 14, in the Wright Theatre of the Redfern Arts Center on Brickyard Pond.
Tickets are $7 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens, youth 17 or younger, and KSC students. Call the box office at 603-358-2168.
Vaughn West directs the often-comedic drama about three sisters who have gathered together in Hazlehurst, Mississippi to deal with a crisis. Babe, the youngest, has shot her husband and is out on bail. Her sister Meg is coming to terms with the fact that her singing career is highly unsuccessful. Lenny turns 30 on the day that they’re gathering to deal with Babe’s situation, but neither of her sisters remembers. The women discuss themselves, each other, and their mother’s strange death years before.
West chose Crimes of the Heart for several reasons, with the primary one being the high quality of Henley’s writing. “Beth Henley is one of the best female playwrights; the art of being a dramatist is knowing what not to write, and she does that beautifully,” he said. “There has to be room for the contributions of the actors and director.” West said the characters’ ages (30 is the oldest) make it easier for college-aged students to portray. The simplicity of the set was also a consideration; it all takes place in one room.
West brings a fresh perspective to this and previous plays that he has chosen to direct, as he purposely chooses plays that he has never seen produced before, either on stage or screen. “That way I can present it as I see it. I don’t bring any baggage - it’s just me and the script.”
In addition to the three women characters, there are two men who interact with them in unique ways. Doc is Meg’s former boyfriend; he epitomizes “the strong, silent type,” and is the heartthrob of most of the women in town. Barnette is in love with Babe, and is also her attorney; he wields his intellect like a sword in defense of his deep-seated insecurities. Though the two men never meet, their personalities illuminate different parts of the women when they interact.
West is confident that his casting choices were the right ones for the personalities and chemistry necessary to effectively portray this story of sisters exploring their relationships and experiencing change in their lives. He said about the casting process, “If you do that right, then most of your job is done.”
