BWW Reviews: Trinity Rep Stages Poignant, Thoughtful MIDDLETOWN

Will Eno's Middletown, now on stage at Trinity Repertory Company's downstairs Dowling Theater, wholly embodies TRC's theme for this season: "The Necessity of Human Connection." This thought-provoking and insightful piece is frequently referenced as a modern-day Our Town, a fitting association as both Eno and Thornton Wilder employ everyday life occurrences in small-town America to examine the ties that form society and interpersonal relationships.

"Middletown" is the home address of Eno's cast of characters, but the town's name also references the playwright's focus: the "middle" part of life, the commonplace meetings and daily routines that make up the majority part of the human experience. Middletown explores these smaller moments that are often taken for granted and, like Our Town, points to humanity's tendency to overlook the miraculous in the mundane.

Though Middletown is small enough that everyone knows everyone else's business, the community lacks the close neighborly ties and family associations that define Our Town's Grover's Corners. Instead, nearly-palpable undercurrents of loneliness and isolation attend every scene and shadow each conversation between Middletown's residents. Fears, disappointments, and deep-seated hurts wrap around the characters and inform the interactions and connections among the townspeople.

That is not to say this is a relentlessly somber or troubling production. On the contrary, there are wonderfully light and funny scenes that keep Middletown's characters accessible, relatable, and appealing throughout the performance. Trinity's excellent ensemble cast brings Middletown's quirky, flawed inhabitants vibrantly to life, and they manage even the most tongue-twisting, rapid-fire lines of Eno's dialogue with seamless delivery and excellent timing.

Truly, the ensemble is the heartbeat of this production. Angela Brazil and Mauro Hantman play new neighbors Mary Swanson and John Dodge, whose burgeoning friendship is central to Middletown's narrative. Brazil and Hantman bring honesty and vulnerability to these characters, making their loftiest hopes and most real fears feel relatable and grounded in human experience.

Fred Sullivan, Jr. plays multiple roles, including Mary's well-meaning doctor and a world-weary tourist. Sullivan also sets the tone for Middletown with an introductory speech that is ovation-worthy, thoroughly entertaining, and delivered at breakneck pace. Lee Osorio brings humor, poetry, and substance to the earthy mechanic's drunken speeches, while Joe Wilson, Jr. gradually and convincingly peels back layers to expose the emotional roots of the town policeman's sudden bursts of hostility.

Deb O created a visually captivating set for Middletown with a myriad of miniature houses making up the staging and backdrop. Each resident in Middletown has an individual dollhouse-like prop that represents their home. These pieces are subtly moved on and off of the stage to establish the characters' activities and locations in the town. Lighting design by Josh Epstein also strongly plays into Trinity's presentation; outdoor settings have a natural illumination, while thoughtfully-placed shadows encroach on scenes to underscore the emotional isolation of Middletown's residents. Epstein's work on one first-act scene featuring Middletown's home-grown celebrity, astronaut Greg (played with the right touch of awe and wonder by Justin Blanchard), is especially striking and memorable.

Middletown plays Trinity Repertory Company's Sarah and Joseph Dowling, Jr. Theater through February 22, 2015. Ticket prices range from $30-$71. Tickets are available online at www.trinityrep.com, by phone (401) 351-4242, or by visiting the box office at 201 Washington Street, Providence, RI.

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Pictured: Mauro Hantman and Angela Brazil
Photo by Mark Turek