Monday, Sep. 28, 2009

Prospect's reach exceeds its grasp with 'Misbegotten'

• RATING: **
• WHERE: Prospect Theater Project, 520 Scenic Drive, Modesto
• WHEN: Through Oct. 11. 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Oct. 8; 2 p.m. Sundays
• RUNNING TIME: 2 hours 40 minutes, including an intermission
• TICKETS: $15
• INFORMATION: 549-9341 or www.prospecttheaterproject.org

Eugene O'Neill's drama "A Moon for the Misbegotten" is a study in the paralyzing effect of guilt and shame.

It centers on a lonely man and woman burdened with heavy regrets who try to find solace for one evening in each other's arms.

It won't be a surprise to theater regulars to learn that the play is staged by Modesto's Prospect Theater Project, which is known for producing dark material. It's the only company in the region that regularly stages serious, challenging material.

This time, however, Prospect isn't able to reach the high bar it sets for itself. While director David Barbaree's production has beautiful moments, it's too slow and unconvincing to generate much feeling in the audience.

You get the sense that the actors don't understand their characters, so it's difficult for them to convey anything authentic. This is the kind of production where yelling substitutes for passion.

Noelle Chandler, who stars as Josie Hogan, is the standout of the cast and finds nuance and depth in her role. She provides the most moving moments when her tough exterior melts in the face of the pain of the man she loves.

O'Neill, a Pulitzer Prize winner and Nobel laureate, wrote the drama as a tribute to troubled brother James O'Neill. It debuted in 1947 and was staged five times on Broadway, with one of the most successful presentations starring Colleen Dewhurst and Jason Robards in the 1970s. Dewhurst and Robards starred in the TV movie version.

Prospect Artistic Director Jack Souza provides a realistic-looking, run-down farmhouse surrounded by real dirt to serve as the set. His lighting hits the right notes for each time of day from dawn to moonlight.

Set in 1923 in Connecticut, the play's main action centers on the unlikely romance between Josie, the poor daughter of a tenant father, and the family's landlord, Jim Tyrone.

Convinced she's unlovable and ugly, Josie puts up a defense by pretending she doesn't care about marriage or romance. She brags that she has slept with half the men in town.

But Jim, played by Andrew Burkum, knows that her bravado hides a tender heart and a beautiful soul. Ashamed of his addiction to drink and his inability to save his dying mother, he looks to Josie for sympathy and love. Burkum seems awkward and unsure in his part and never quite finds his stride.

William Gamble, who plays Josie's alcoholic father, Phil, is brutish, loud and often hard to understand. Kevin Garcia overacts as the snobbish neighbor T. Stedman Harder. Jay Sprague, who plays Josie's brother Mike, has too brief of an appearance to make much of an impact.

"A Moon for the Misbegotten" should make audiences cry for its characters. Unfortunately, at least at Friday's performance, it generated mostly yawns.

For more about arts news, read Lisa Millegan's blog at thehive.modbee.com/artsbeat or follow her at www.twitter.com/lisamillegan.