LATHAM, N.Y. — If the world of theater actually does reflect the mood of the world, why is Curtain Call Theatre offering “Be Here Now,” which, as described, sounds like a play focused on happiness?
The play is about a negative woman who finds herself suddenly embracing happiness and enjoying life. While uplifting, it seems a slender premise for a 90-minute play.
Patricia Bunce, understands the thought, but doesn’t agree. She says, playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer expresses the pros and cons of living for today in a provocative manner. Bunce is directing the work that opens tonight in Latham. She’s a newcomer to Curtain Call but has a long career as an arts educator and has directed for almost every other local theater company.
Speaking over the phone, she said her first reaction to the play was concern. She too feared it might be frivolous. However, as she began to explore the work, she said that even though it had extremely funny moments, it is more than froth. Even better, in her mind it stimulates thought in an honest way. She says. “It makes you question how much should a person risk to live in a state of happiness?”
Bunce explained that the central character, Bari, becomes open to happiness after a series of dangerous seizures. “This sets up the situation where Bari wonders if surgically curing her seizures means losing her new found happiness. She quietly adds, ”Or her life.”
As a director, this realization was gold. “Now there is internal conflict going on inside her head,” says Bunce. “There is a struggle going on as she must decide if the healing process comes at too great a cost. It really is a tough choice because it is very possible she could be returning to a place where she had no life.”
One painful loss could come from Bari losing her new boyfriend, Mike. He has a complicated, tragic past and has found comfort by building shelters for the homeless out of discarded items. Through a fluke of fate his creations are now considered valuable pieces of art. Bunce takes a moment to credit set designer Alex Dietz-Kest for creating a space filled with found objects that she says, “Gets inside the characters’ lives and brains.”
Bunce, who is a stickler for motivational honesty, did extensive research and discovered Geschwind Syndrome, a form of epilepsy. It’s an uncommon affliction that can cause compulsive writing, intense religious and philosophical interests, heightened or lessened sexuality, and an intensified mental life that provokes cognitive and emotional responses.
Bunce says it definitely describes Bari, who is obsessed with completing her doctorate dissertation on nihilism. For the first time in her life she’s able to love and to appreciate the joy of living. As a person who believed life is without purpose or meaning, she is now able to reflect on the positive aspects of life.
Another thing the director admires about the play is the importance of the other three characters. She says Mike is worthy of a play of his own. She indicates that Bari’s companions, the outspoken best friend Patty, and her sweet young niece, Luanne, provide the comic relief. However, she insists that each makes a contribution greater than providing laughs.
On the subject of casting, she says she has been gifted with a talented quartet of local actors. While she sings the praises of Talia Hotaling, Pamela O’Connor and David Orr, she singles out the challenge of Jennifer Van Iderstyne as Bari. “She is wonderful in a very tricky role. In the wrong hands Bari could be an unpleasant person. Jennifer is finding the sympathy for a person that goes from being afraid to be happy in life to being afraid of not being alive. She does this without seeming arrogant or selfish. I think audiences will love Bari and relate to her plight.”
“Be Here Now” produced by Curtain Call Theatre, Latham. April 8-May 1. For tickets and schedule information go to curtaincalltheatre.com
