A Tree, Falling
by Ron Elisha
Directed by Michael Dorsey
Upstream Theater
April 28, 2018
Jerry Vogel, Kari Ely
Photo by ProPhotoSTL.com
Upstream Theater
There’s no use mincing words about this–Upstream Theater’s latest production, Australian playwright Ron Elisha’s A Tree, Falling is a sad play. It’s incredibly sad. It’s the kind of sad that just sort of sits with you for a while, daring you to cry. Yes, there are small spots of hope, but the overarching emotions here are sadness and regret.
Director Michael Dorsey has brought two prominent, top-notch St. Louis performers to this production. Jerry Vogel plays Lenny, an 80-year-old retired physician who essentially lives in his own world. His former life isn’t even a memory to him, as he is suffering from profound memory loss. Kari Ely plays Lola, a “friendly visitor” who has been sent by the local council to help Lenny, although she has to re-introduce herself every time she visits because Lenny never remembers her. Through the course of the story, we learn more about Lenny’s former life, as well as about personal issues in Lola’s life, as she deals with news about her own family and struggles to help Lenny remember anything of his. As Lenny’s health declines, the relationship dynamic grows more urgent, and more sad, and the sense of loss of a richly lived life is emphasized all the more.
The play’s staging and production design give it a sense of fantasy as well as realism, with Cristie Johnson’s detailed set also evoking a “vortex” type motif that adds emphasis to the theme of memory loss. The costumes by Laura Hanson, lighting by Tony Anselmo, props by Katie Schoenfeld, and sound by Michael Dorsey also work together well to suggest a sense of realism as well as a crushing sense of confusion and loss, augmenting the truly excellent performances of the two leads. Vogel, as the stubborn but personable Lenny, and Ely, as the friendly but equally stubborn and detrmined Lola, bring excellent chemistry and a full range of emotions to this heartwrenching production. Part of the sadness comes from the clear realization of the life that Lenny has forgotten, as well as the continued, increasingly frustrating efforts of Lola to help him, as well as to make sense of her own life as she learns that her own past isn’t quite what she thought. There is a true sense of affection that builds between the characters, but always that sense of profound sadness as well. It’s a difficult play to watch, even with the stunning performances.
A Tree, Falling is a short play, running at roughly 80 minutes with no intermission, and there’s a lot that goes on in that short running time. It’s an ideal length for such a relentlessly heavy subject matter, really, because more time would only have served to prolong the sadness, although there is a degree of hope at the end, depending on how you look at it. Still, this was worth seeing as a reminder of the importance of life and personal connections, even when those connections are muddled or entirely lost. It’s also a showcase for some truly excellent St. Louis acting talent.
Kari Ely, Jerry Vogel
Photo by ProPhotoSTL.com
Upstream Theater
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