Marina Nebro: Arts and Culture

It’s a nice day for a PICNIC

How lucky am I to have a friend in the theatre world now (shout-out to Alyssa Blumenthal again)! Without her, I might not have seen this quaint, Pulitzer Prize-winning show by William Inge! I must say, it was quite a picnic. The story is a simple one, yet not too simple to have you drooling by the end. I’ve left you hanging long enough, here’s the show in a nutshell:

Welcome to Kansas, the land of Dorothy and the great Wizard of Oz. It’s a hot summer’s day – Labor Day as specified in the Playbill. A rugged man, fairly attractive looking from where I was sitting, walks on stage – this is Hal Carter (Sebastian Stan), the bad boy of the story. He is working for food because all of his money had been stolen off of him earlier (according to him, by two attractive babes). Mrs. Helen Potts (Ellen Burstyn), the old woman who lives with her even older mother, walks out and offers the breakfast she promised the poor vagabond. Out climbs Millie (Madeleine Martin) from the featured house’s window, taking a lit cigarette with her. She’s only a girl, but you can tell she’s rebellious by her smoking habit and her boyish style – the story seems to be set in the early 1960s. But she’s also extremely intellectual – reading “banned” books and claiming that she wants to move to New York someday and write. Madge (Maggie Grace) is Millie’s older sister, and she is quite the opposite. Madge is beautiful, and she knows it! She is also quite dim and only has the prospect of marrying a nice man to get her anywhere. Both of the girls latch their eyes on Hal Carter’s shirtless and sweaty body – what a man!

From here on out it can easily be guessed what happens. But, for the sake of not leaving any characters out, we also have Flo Owens (Mare Winningham), the mother of both Millie and Madge. It seems she has a clear preference for Madge, as she’s the eldest daughter, the prettiest one, and has the best prospects when it comes to men. Let’s not forget Rosemary Sydney (Elizabeth Marvel), the crazy aunt who lives with the Owens family and also has a sweet tooth for Mr. Carter. Last, but not least, is Alan Seymour (Ben Rappaport), Madge’s boyfriend and prospective fiancé. Yes, you heard me right. She has a boyfriend, but as I said before, you know what’s going to happen by the end of the story…

Without giving anything away, I think I’ve given a pretty succinct explanation of the relationship between characters, and from those relationships, it can easily be predicted where the plot takes us. (As a brief sidenote, I would just like to let the reader know that the show is entitled Picnic due to the fact that Flo Owens and Mrs. Potts put together a picnic for the town’s young people). The only criticism I would have for the play, though, is the cliched ending between Madge and Hal (who I believe are the two weakest characters of the story) that does make the plot seem very simple. But let’s not get hung up on the negative.

I really identified with the character of Millie. Though I wouldn’t consider myself too rebellious, rather, I believe I am quite the conservative and traditional, I feel for her. Throughout the entire story, she is overshadowed by her beautiful, yet less talented, sister. She feels unwanted and ignored, even though she has the most going for her in terms of an independent future. She recognizes her talent, but can’t prove to anyone that it’s worth something. No, I am not saying that I feel inadequate next to my sister, and no I am not saying that my sister is less talented than I. I love my sister! The reason that I felt such a close connection with Millie is because she was the deepest character, the one with the most emotions and the most intelligence, and I must say, I value intelligence. Being someone who, especially in the past, tends to be slightly introverted, not as ostentatious, and a bit “quirky,” I feel that often times I have been slighted and passed by for those more outgoing and attention seeking. Millie in Kansas reminded me of Marina in Great Neck. Oh the things that Millie will be able to experience when she does get herself to New York!

Now, onto the technical aspects of the production. I absolutely loved the stage! It felt very homey due to the fact that the actors treated the set as an actual home. Yes, there was action going on outside, on the porch, and in the garden, but they also acted indoors, obstructed slightly by window panes and walls. Though slightly frustrating not being able to see the action perfectly at all times, it felt utterly realistic. I felt as if I were actually there, frustrated that my mother was talking to me while I was outside and she was inside – I CAN’T HEAR YOU MOM!!! You know what I mean? This was the second time that I have seen real grass used to portray a yard – the first time was the Broadway production of Jerusalem with Mark Rylance. Because the set didn’t move, the lighting designer must have had a tough time figuring out how to make the scenes seem different. Jane Cox (lighting design) did an outstanding job with the lights, making the stage light up at noon, and creating large shadows as the hours grew longer.

Overall, I must say I really enjoyed Picnic. It was entertaining, moving, beautiful, relaxing, and enjoyable all in one! There were lines that made you think, characters that had depth, and scenarios that are universal and relatable. I would definitely recommend it!

Picnic
Roundabout Theatre Company
American Airlines Theatre
January 9, 2012

Marina B. Nebro