THEATRE REVIEW:
KPBS
AIRDATE: July 09, 2004
Theatergoers, take note. Especially those with good attention spans
and those who lived through the '60s. "Continental Divide," David
Edgar's epic, two-play cycle, requires patience, careful listening and a
penchant for politics.
In a broad sense, the plays concern a fictitious gubernatorial
election, clearly set in California, and seen from both sides of the political
aisle. But they're really about values, ideals and political convictions, and
how hard it is to hold onto them as you age, grow more successful and become
more jaded. The plays also consider utopias, how each side saw them, and how
they continue to proliferate -- among the tree-huggers as well as the militant
militias.
It's easy to get buried in all the rhetoric of these wordy,
idea-drenched plays. They're shown at the La Jolla Playhouse in repertory, and
you can see them in any order, or even back-to-back. But that's a whole lotta
theater in one day. I'd suggest seeing "Mothers Against" first and
then "Daughters of the Revolution."
"Mothers" looks behind the scenes at the Republican prep
for the TV debate. "Daughters" is set in the Democratic camp, though
some characters make appearances in both plays. On the Republican side, the
sympathetic candidate is really a libertarian. His family is in conflict. His
radical daughter is an environmental activist. And his advisors don't see eye
to eye. It takes awhile for "Mothers" to pick up steam, which it does
in the second act, with the brutal debate rehearsal.
"Daughters" starts right off
with a bang, at a big birthday bash for 55 year-old Michael. As a kind of gag
gift, his partner presents him with his FBI file, where he finds his '60s
activism well documented. This might impact his upcoming State commission post,
given to him by the incumbent Democratic governor, who's got her own struggles,
linked to a staffer's '60s indiscretions. Back at Michael's party, his file
also reveals that one of his militant buddies betrayed him. The rest of the
play becomes a whodunit, as Michael seeks out the snitch among the seven former
activists, all linked in some way to the current campaign and its hot-potato
issues, which include a controversial Proposition requiring a loyalty oath. The
second act takes to the woods, and opens with a breathtaking scene of
tree-lovers rappelling down giant redwoods. Big-screen projections and
inventive scenic design are more effective in "Daughters," and there
are a few more characters to care about.
Tony Taccone, who directed all prior productions of the cycle,
shepherds his flexible cast through the dense forest of ideas. The nearly
six-hour journey of these two plays exposes the seamy underbelly of American
politics. But in this election year, it also reminds us of the danger of
selling out -- or remaining uninvolved.
©2004
Patté Productions Inc.