Welcome to Big Cherry where
the dedicated city council members are ready and waiting to plan the annual
heritage festival. The American Lives Theatre production of Tracy Letts’
one-act play “The Minutes” is on stage now at the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre.
The
show has a slow start as the meeting we’re watching is almost too realistic. It
hits close to home if you’ve ever attended small-town meetings with petty
conflicts and private grievances. It took me back to my years as a daily
reporter covering the board of zoning appeals, and town councils.
Robert’s Rules of Order
go out the window when blood begins to boil. When Charles Goad (Mr. Carp)
appears the plot kicks into high gear. His role looms large in the story even
before he arrives. As the catalyst for the action, he’s perfect, both passionate
and sincere. Up until that point, it feels a bit like an awkward waiting game
as Mr. Peel (Josh Ramsey) sits on the sidelines desperate for answers.
Ramsey
plays Peel with an earnest, bewildered aire reminiscent of Jimmy Stewart in Mr.
Smith Goes to Washington. Stephen Roger Kitts II is also excellent as the
exasperated mayor and Scot Greenwell adds a layer of simmering disenchantment
as Mr. Hanratty.
The stodgy
claustrophobic feel of the first half of the show is intentional and director
Chris Saunders handles it beautifully. We are meant to be just as frustrated
as Mr. Peel at the red tape and wheel spinning of the committee. We are meant
to grow more curious and desperate to understand what happened at the previous
meeting. When the truth is revealed it’s as satisfying as it is horrifying. The
dark comedy is a disturbingly accurate representation of our country right now.
Don't Miss the Show
or more information about American Lives Theatre, visit
americanlivestheatre.org. For tickets visit: phoenixtheatre.org/buy-tickets
Performances: The show runs until May 28th at the Phoenix
Theatre, 705 N. Illinois Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Photos Courtesy of Indy Ghost Light
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