BWW Reviews: Cody Henderson's Topical Premiere Wonderlust Is Engrossing Fare

Wonderlust
by Cody Henderson
directed by Amber Skalski
Theatre of Note
through October 1

Let me say right up front that I am a teacher, have been for thirty+ years, and so any play having to do with education definitely strikes my fancy. Such was the case with Sex and Education. Biology, however, was never my strong point, but I can certainly appreciate the efforts of a new science teacher who motivates his students by getting them to relate life and love. Cody Henderson's new play Wonderlust is a viable endeavor on a couple of levels and may be one of the best plays I have seen in 2011. Now on stage at Theatre of Note in Hollywood, Wonderlust has a superb cast and equally excellent direction from Amber Skalski.

There's a pretty senior student Sharon (Elia Saldana), who is not living up to her potential, so her science teacher Andy Goodspeed (Tristan James Butler) and her government teacher Ralph Parsons (Carl J. Johnson), clearly old school, put the pressure on, as graduation approaches. Goodspeed really cares about her success, causing Parsons to become suspicious and, out of jealousy, eventually create problems for the young teacher, problems that may cost him his job. The whole plot here is so real in today's teaching world. If a teacher works out of the box, causing students to react in any way that administration and parents consider questionable, the results get exaggerated and may be labeled improper or unChristian; a teacher contract may be quickly and unreasonably, unjustly terminated. Without giving away too many details, Goodspeed is challenged about his behavior toward Sharon by her uncle Congressman Trip (Brad C. Light) and is dismissed. Background: Goodspeed's wife recently left him, he suffered a mild heart attack due to stress and is still emotionally insecure; without knowing the particulars of his personal life, Sharon has fallen in love with him. Nothing happens between them, but other students' sudden explosive sexual reactions to a love experiment devised by Goodspeed put Parsons, the school board and entire community in an uproar. A very realistically somber headline-making dilemma!

Henderson's keen understanding of this problem makes the play totally engrossing, but above and beyond that, there's the whole positive motivational concept of the experiment that works miracles in the students' lives, yet ironically bringing along with it so much negativity. Challenging the teacher's nonspiritual methods is the southern Baptist-like Christian congressman whose argument makes us see, that with or without God, the power of love is incredibly healing.

The ensemble is outstanding all around. Butler brings great sensitivity and depth to Goodspeed; Saldana beautifully essays Sharon's heartbreak of being torn in half; Johnson is so dynamically effective as Parsons, a symbol of society's sloth, ruthlessness and greed; Light is just right as Trip, the slick conniving salesman who may live right next door. Barbara Lempel's functional classroom set and Henderson's sound and graphic designs add wondrous touches.

Wonderlust is absorbing, thought-provoking entertainment at the highest level. Like many of my great teachers, who inspired me to look for answers, Henderson's urgent message of live/love rings loud and clear.