A Bright New Boise is a beautiful play about a man coming to grips with a lifetime on autopilot. Oh yeah, he’s also a fundamentalist with a craving for that sweet Rapture chariot to carry him home—preferably sooner rather than later—and an estranged father with an hourly job well past the shelf life for improving his lot.
Far from dire and depressing, Boise sparkles with wit and intensity, thanks to playwright Samuel D. Hunter’s keen ear for dialogue and performances from some of the Bay Area’s finest actors. Equal parts thoughtful and thought provoking, the play avoids “preachiness” at all costs, leaving even the ending open for interpretation. I love that Hunter tackles such a polarizing subject with grace and objectivity, never demonizing or pitying the characters, simply presenting them warts and all. Director Tom Ross does what he does best—guiding and balancing off the wall characters so that the story can shine.
Robert Parsons gives a masterful yet nuanced performance as damaged yet undamned dad, Will. Grounded and introspective, he’s painfully aware of the bed he’s made for himself—but can’t quite escape the slavery of his faith. You can debate until the end times if he’s fashioning a utopia or wallowing in denial, but thanks to Parsons' skill, you’ll walk away understanding his point of view.
Gwen Loeb is hilarious as the potty-mouthed store manager Pauline, whose specialty is bringing order to chaos. Patrick Russell is flawless as the “Fuck” t-shirt wearing provocateur doubling as the store’s resident expert and all around brat. Daniel Petzold makes a teriffic Aurora debut as the troubled, sullen son Alex. Megan Trout, however, practically steals the show as socially inept Anna. She’s pitch perfect with angular awkwardness and a liquid face that makes it impossible to look away.
Who will enjoy this play? Anyone who seeks to understand the “other” and refuses a knee jerk dehumanization of those with beliefs repulsive to their own. And, anyone in need of an escape from drudgery a la Sugarland:
Got be something more,
Somethin’ more than this,
I need a little less hard time,
I need a little more bliss…
Now through December 8 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley.
Will (l, Robert Parsons) introduces himself to Alex (right, Daniel Petzold) as his father in Aurora Theatre Company's A Bright New Boise.
photo by David Allen
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