Walter Cronkite is Dead
by Joe Calarco
Directed by Anna Blair
West End Players Guild
December 2, 2023
Leslie Wobbe, Kate Durbin
Photo by John Lamb
West End Players Guild
Two women meet as strangers in an airport bar. One is more outgoing and talkative; the other is initially more reserved and reticent. Brought together by circumstance, they soon find themselves opening up to one another, revealing their differences, as well as how much they have in common. This is the premise of Joe Calarco’s Walter Cronkite is Dead, which is currently being staged in a thoroughly engaging production at West End Players Guild, featuring two memorable performances and an overall atmosphere that draws the audience into the worlds of these two different, but oddly similar, characters.
This is something of a “talky” play, but it doesn’t get boring in the least, considering the dynamic staging by director Anna Blair and the superb performances of its two leads, Leslie Wobbe as Patty and Kate Durbin as Margaret. Finding refuge in a bar at Washington, DC’s Reagan National Airport because of a weather emergency causing massive flight delays, the two form a gradual bond that at first seems unlikely, considering that the more reserved Margaret seems wary of the talkative Patty, but eventually the conversation starts, revealing much about these two women and why they are in the airport, as well as their contrasting outlooks on life, with Patty being a more “country” conservative from Tennessee, and Margaret being more of a Northeastern liberal who loves the Kennedy family so much that she’s named all four of her children after them. It’s a lively interaction, with ups and downs as the two struggle with their differences and deep-held stereotypes, as well as discovering similarities with which they can relate, concerning their relationships with their children and more. The tone is mostly comic, but there are also some palpable moments of drama, providing a deep emotional range for these two excellent performers.
The acting is just marvelous, from both Wobbe as the more chatty, outgoing Patty, and Durbin as the more standoffish, but eventually just as emotive Margaret. The dialogue is well-constructed, and Wobbe and Durbin play off of each other with relatable energy, making for a completely believable performance and building relationship.
The look and mood of the show is well-maintained by means of a simple set–the designer of which is not credited in the program, as well as atmospheric lighting by Amy Ruprecht, sound by Mary Beth Winslow, and props by Blair. The costumes are also excellent and perfectly suited to their characters. I’m not sure if there was a designer or if the performers assembled the outfits themselves, but the whole look and style of the characters works well considering their personalities.
Walter Cronkite is Dead has a lot to say considering first impressions, stereotyping, and polarization in today’s society. Although the story takes place in 2010, it’s especially timely for 2023. It’s a remarkable, insightful production.
The West End Players Guild is presenting Walter Cronkite is Dead at the Union Avenue Christian Church until December 10, 2023