MARK AUERBACH
HARTFORD – Hartford Stage opens its new season with a world premiere, “An Opening in Time”, by Wethersfield, CT native Christopher Shinn, a highly acclaimed voice in the contemporary theatre. Shinn sets his new play in a Hartford suburb – an area he’s been pondering in the last few years, as he’s fought an illness that caused him a lot of introspection.
So imagine this scenario, which is familiar to many of us. You grow up in a small town, and leave home to seek fame and fortune elsewhere. But, something draws you back to the familiar town where you grew up, and you return. Time has stood still for parts of town, yet familiar things have changed, and the people you know have changed. It can be an uneasy homecoming.
Brandon Smalls in Christopher Shinn’s “An Opening in Time” at Hartford Stage. (Photo by T. Charles Erickson.)
In “An Opening in Time”, Anne, a recently widowed former teacher, returns to her Connecticut town after an extended period of time away. Her life is in transition. Her estranged son has been charged with a crime. Her new house has been vandalized, possibly by a young man, who’s a foster child
next door. She reconnects at a local diner with a former drama teacher at the high school, who she was once attracted to, but couldn’t get involved with because she and the drama teacher had spouses.
Shinn’s writing style and language is contemporary, and although it’s serious stuff and difficult interactions happening onstage, there is sufficient humor to keep the play from being too dark. He’s written solid material for Anne and the drama teacher; other characters are less defined, and some issues in the play are never resolved–such as who was the vandal of the house.
Oliver Butler’s staging is fluid, and Antje Ellermann’s suburban New England sets are superb. Ilona Somogyi’s costuming, Russell H. Champa’s lighting and Jane Shaw’s music and sound design are superb.
All of the performances are good, but the standouts for me were Deborah Hedwall as Anne; Patrick Clear as a high school drama teacher, Brandon Smalls as George, the foster teen next door, and Kati Brazda as a moody waitress. Each character is so familiar as people we know in our New England neighborhoods, and there are numerous references to some very New England things: Friendly’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Denny’s.
“An Opening in Time” is a challenging work, but Hartford Stage should be commended for opening what looks to be an exciting season with a world premiere about a Connecticut town by a Connecticut playwright. This is a work-in-progress, and with some revisions, could have more dramaticintensity and more unanswered questions (which I can’t reveal, so as not to
spoilthe plot) resolved.
Kudos to the design and construction team who have given the theatre an expanded lobby, a dazling marquee, and a better-positioned box-office area.
Hartford Stage presents “An Opening in Time” by Christopher Shinn. Directed by Oliver Butler. Scenic design by Antje Ellermann. Costume design by Ilona Somogyi. Lighting design by Russell H. Champa. Music and sound design by Jane Shaw. Cast: Deborah Hedwall (Anne), Brandon Smalls (George), Patrick Clear (Ron), Kati Brazda (Anetta), Bill Christ (Frank), Molly Camp
(Kim), Mike Keller (Detective), Karl Miller (Sam). Through October 11. Hartford Stage, 50 Church Street, Hartford, CT. For tickets: 860-527-5151 or www.hartfordstage.org
Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio.
