Bret Jaspers (Ben) and Shane O’Loughlin (Eugene). Photo by Stan Barouh.
Winner of the 1958 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Look Homeward, Angel by Ketti Frings, now playing at the Compass Rose Theater, is an adaptation of Thomas Wolfe’s, autobiographical novel of the same name. Wolfe was a short-lived American novelist of the 20th Century, who is famous for his eloquent use of poetic prose and his keen sense of observation.
The story takes place in a small town in rural North Carolina and follows the life and story of the Gant family and their boarding house. The book is described as a coming-of-age story that follows the character of Eugene Gant, who is supposedly largely based on Wolfe, but the play seems to highlight different aspects of his story. This production focuses on the entire family and their struggles against the hardships of a stagnant life. The lives and direction of every family member seem to be at odds with each other, themselves, and the world. The struggles are relatable to all of us who have been in a rut and are unable to get out of it. Many of us have experienced the inability to move forward or to fight against the decay of the person we used to be.
Gary Goodson, much like his character, is a force to be reckoned with.
The plot and characters are relatable and enjoyable. At times the play was a little difficult to sustain my attention and interest. The story, however is peppered with some interesting moments as we see the family drama unfold and characters collide.
There are two stand-out actors who by contrast gave stellar performances: Shane O’Loughlin as the innocent young son, Eugene Gant, and Gary Goodson as the alcoholic, worn out father, W.O. Gant. O’Loughlin’s performance as the young boy who wants nothing more than to go to college and get out of the town he has spent his whole life in, was a joy to experience. He skillfully handled the character’s growth from being a naive, awkward boy to being a determined young man with moments of genuine sweetness with his love interest Laura James. O’Loughlin also skillfully used language and painted pictures with his words as he embodied Eugene’s passion for a life beyond his little town.
Gary Goodson, much like his character, is a force to be reckoned with. His first scene as W.O. Gant, blundering down the center isle in a drunken rage, electrified the whole theater. Goodson’s presence was so magnifying that I could not take my eyes off him. Goodson expertly tells W.O. Gant’s story and gives us a full insight into his complexity. Within the same scene, I could see the rage, the tenderness, and the despair that lived within this one tortured soul, all with varying dynamics. I could see the pain and suffering Gant went through from an unfulfilled life that past by too quickly.
Shane O’Loughlin (Eugene) and Lucinda Merry-Browne (Eliza). Photo by Stan Barouh.
The technical elements of the production were on point. The technical design, and specifically the scenic design, was very intriguing and assisted in the story telling of the play immensely. The set was of the interior of a broken down boarding house with creaky stairs and sparse furniture. The setting seemed to reflect the state of being of the characters: stuck and stagnant. The color palate consisted of very pale pastels that seem to suggest the colorful life some of the characters had once lived and are now slipping away. Or, the hopeful sense that the drab life the younger family members are leading now could one day become colorful. The design was very thought provoking and well executed by the scenic designer, multi-talented artist, Gary Goodson, who also played W.O. Gant.
Directed by Patrick Walsh, Compass Rose Theater’s production had some wonderful highlights and performances. That, combined with a sweet and relatable story, made for a relatively pleasant evening.
Running Time: 2 ½ hours with a 15-minute intermission.
Look Homeward, Angel runs through February 9, 2014 at Compass Rose Theatre, 49 Spa Road Annapolis, MD 21401. For Tickets, click here.
