JOURNEY’S END: Drama by R.C. Sherriff. Directed by James Dunn.Ross Valley Players.Barn Theatre at the Marin Art & Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Ross. For tickets, call 415-456-9555 or go to www.rossvalleyplayers.com.
JOURNEY’S END echoes at Ross Valley Players [Rating:4] (5/5 stars)
There are no living survivors of “The Great War”, as it was called, that devastated an entire elite generation of youth during the senseless World War I that was fought in trenches from 1914 to 1918. Playwright, novelist, screenwriter R. C. Sheriff fought in that war and received a serious wound and a medal for his efforts. It also gave him fodder for his most famous play Journey’s End that is receiving a stunning production at Ross Valley Player’s Barn Theatre.
Wars in the trenches are usually fought by the poor and lower class youths and there are many books, plays and movies that document their plight. In Journey’sEnd authorR. C. Sheriff creates characters emphasizing the humanity and inhumanity of the officer class. Although he specifically portrays the British Officer class there is a universality that extends to all. Sadly youth of the present generation who have been inundated with the total destruction of modern warfare certainly would find the play very tame. Hopefully they will be able to identify with the driving motivations of the well-drawn personalities who await their eventual destruction.
It is the waiting that is oppressive and the play offers a spectrum of how that waiting affects men and the manner in which they respond. Captain Hardy (Steve Price) is the one who delivers the orders from the High Command to Captain Stanhope (David Yen) a dedicated soldier and leader of the regiment stationed inFrance where there is 50-70 yards of no-man’s land between the British and German trenches. His psyche and guilt is assuaged by consuming alcohol and he refuses to accept his well-earned relief from his tour of duty. “I couldn’t bear being fully conscious all the time.”
Three other men share the officer’s wooden quarters (magnificent set by Ron Krempetz). Avuncular Lieutenant Osborne (Tom Hudgens) a school teacher, whom is called “Uncle” by his peers and who reads from “Alice in Wonderland’ that is symbolic of nonsensical purpose of the war. Second Lieutenant Hibbert (Phillip Goleman) who whines about his neuralgia attempting to be sent back to a hospital behind the lines. Level headed Second Lt. Trotter (Stephen Dietz) who relies on his wife’s letters to tell him what is happening in the war. Young idealistic gung-ho Second Lieutenant (Raleigh (Francis Serpa) who asked to be sent to Stanhope’s command since he has always admired him beginning in their school days. Necessary humor is interjected in the serious oppressive monotony of waiting for the inevitable with Private Mason (Sean Gunnell) the irreverent cook. (Photo : L-R: Osborne (Tom Hudgens); Stanhope (David Yen); Raleigh (Francis Serpa))
Director Jim Dunn allows the interaction and motivations of the characters to flow naturally with a modicum of dramatic flare-ups that are superbly projected by theirrespective personalities. A memorable scene ensues when a confrontation between Hibbert and Stanhope reveals that each is driven by the same fears.
Ross Valley’s admirable production values are on abundant display beginning with the claustrophobic set, great directing and acting. Running time 2 hours and15 minutes with an intermission.
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com
Cast: Stanhope (David Yen); Osborne (Tom Hudgens); Raleigh (Francis Serpa), Mason (Sean Gunnell); Trotter (Stephen Diet); Hardy & The Colonel (Steve Price); Cpl. Broughton & German Soldier (Ross Berger); Sgt. Major (Jeff Taylor); Hibbert (Philip Goleman).
Production Staff: Director, James Dunn; Production Manager, Robin Jackson; Production Consultants, Suzie Hughes, Bob Wilson; Stage Manager, Frank Cardinale; Asst Stage Manager, Steve Stromberg; Set Design Ron Krempetz; Costume Design, Michael Berg; Lighting Design, Ellen Brooks; Lighting Technician, Ian Lamers; Sound Design, Stephen Dietz; Property Design, Maureen Scheuenstuhl; Set Construction, Ian Swift.
