Some of the staff of Jasper had the good fortune last night to attend the closing performance of TRUSTUS Theatre’s most recent play, Swing ’39. Directed by Chad Henderson, a young man who, full disclosure, is dear to the heart of this writer, Swing ’39 was the winner of the TRUSTUS Playwright’s Festival. Written by Alessandro King, a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, Swing ’39 was developed during readings both at Sarah Lawrence and at New Dramatists, “the country’s premiere center for the support and development of playwrights,” according to their website. While we enjoyed the play and thought the second act made up for some needed editing on the playwright’s part in the first, we were also duly impressed by the set design, lighting design, and costuming.
Danny Harrington, who did the scenic design, was able to capture the essence of early 20th century propriety in his pink, center-stage Davenport which appeared to be as appropriately uncomfortable as it was beautiful.
Costume Designer, Alexis Doktor, one of the two most under-recognized and over-achieving members of the Columbia arts community, scored an A+ again with her too snug pencil skirts for the women and too large suits for the men. Her wardrobe decisions well reflected the constraining sex role constructs of the pre-World War II era. (And the shoes chosen for Sylvia, played by Bianca Raso, were to die for!)
Aaron Pelzek, the other of the two most under-recognized and over-achieving members of the Columbia arts community, announced he was serious about his lighting design in the first few seconds of the show when he dramatically lit the stage, one fixture at a time, to the tune of the opening music.
Finally, hats off to Elena Martinez-Vidal who played the off-stage voice of Sylvia’s mother with a demanding whine that would put that of Howard Wolowitz’s Ma to shame. That said, at least one member of our theatre-going party has not been able to get Dr. Hook’s rendition of Sylvia’s Mother out of her head since reading the program last night.
Other standouts from the performance include G. Scott Wild in the role of Benny Goodman and Rozlyn Stanley as his love interest, Maggie. Wild, seen most recently as John Wilkes Booth in the TRUSTUS production of Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins, also directed by Henderson, was a snarling portrait of professionalism. Stanley embodied the kind of sensual naiveté that would allow a girl of her character’s age to become involved in a tryst with such an unlikely partner.
Kudos to the cast and crew of Swing ’39. We’re looking forward to seeing more of you all on our city’s stages in the near future.
— C. Boiter
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