BWW Reviews: MAST is a Nightmarish Memory Play You Will Long Be Discussing

MAST, now playing at Salvage Vanguard Theatre, is a new play by paper chairs co-founder and local playwright Elizabeth Doss. In its World Première staging, MAST tells the story of Ann (Katie Bender), a rancher's daughter working on an Air Force base outside Abilene, TX, where she meets Walter (Jesse Bertron), a journalist, and ends up unexpectedly conceiving a child, Michael (Sean Francis Moran), in the heat of wartime frenzy. They elope to the Dominican Republic, which is under the oppressive rule of Trujillo (Noel Gaulin). This is the place where Michael is born and where everything begins to unravel. Based on stories of her own mid-century Texas relatives that have been with playwright Elizabeth Doss for most of her life, MAST spans the decades of this family's life.

These relatives of Doss's all died before she was even born; however, despite never knowing any of these people, she's always been fascinated by them. "There were lots of things that happened in their family that were really peculiar and mysterious that have haunted my imagination since I was a kid," she says.

The script is a clearly a memory play. What is less clear is whose memory it is...or if it is just one person's memory. Director Diana Lynn Small's inventive staging beautifully supports these memories that form the basis of MAST. The play is, by turns, funny, touching and disturbing. The production has a dream-like (or is it nightmare) quality that is totally engaging. It is almost like William Inge on an acid trip.

The set, by Lisa Laratta, is a stunner. It reminds one of a 3D picture postcard from the period and serves as the backdrop for the globe spanning action. The play also features original music by Mark Stewart which underscores the events most effectively. The lighting, by Natalie George, is quite moody and beautiful and Mercedes O'Bannion's costuming is on the mark and keeps you firmly grounded in the time period. Visually, this is a gorgeous production.

Katie Bender does a terrific job as Ann, ringing true in her transformation from young girl to bitter, angry adult. Jesse Bertron also does an excellent job with Walter's transformation from young serviceman to a man embroiled in international intrigue and finally to barely interested father. Sean Francis Moran, as Michael, manages to pull off the tricky job of playing far younger than his age. His expressions and body language make his performance totally believable. Tiffany Nicely-Williams does a great job in her duel roles of Uranita and Loretta... and she possesses a hauntingly beautiful blues singing voice. Noel Gaulin, as Trujillo, delivers an unhinged dictator that is a little larger and stranger than life... a character of whom nightmares are made.

MAST isn't a show that neatly ties up, nor is it one that has a clear, immediate meaning. Instead, MAST is like one of those dreams you wake up from and spend days trying to figure out exactly what it all meant. When theatre makes you think that long and hard to piece together the clues... that's theatre that's done exactly what theatre is meant to do.

MAST by Elizabeth Doss

Running time: 1 hours and 30 minutes, with a 15 minute intermission.

MAST, produced by paper chairs, plays The Salvage Vanguard Theatre (2803 E. Manor Road) now thru August 8th. Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm. Tickets are $15-$25 on a sliding scale for general admission with $10 tickets on Thursdays. For tickets and information, please visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1753563