01.25.08 5:00 AM CST
• After After Hours
• David Pfister
Our crack Copy Editor Joseph Westerfield went wandering Off-Broadway last night to see a new production of a stage version of Slaughterhouse-Five. Here's his review: And for those who can’t get enough of Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five (and who can't wait for the April issue of Playboy, which contains an early essay Vonnegut wrote about the Dresden bombing called “Wailing Shall Be in All the Streets”) should head to the 59E59 Theater in New York for a theatrical adaptation by Eric Simonson.
Now I know what most of you are thinking: Even more than a sitcom on the WB, non-Broadway theater is the quickest way to oblivion. But such anonymity affords these companies the opportunity to take chances. That is the case with this production. The play does hit all the major plot points: the Dresden firebombing, the time-tripping and he unfortunate Edgar Derby taking one for the team for picking up a teapot. And of course, once again, Billy Pilgrim becomes unstuck in time. Whenever he gets too close to an overwhelming moment, off he goes to another less stressful time. Billy may get to keep his distance, but the audience does not. This isn’t the 1973 George Roy Hill movie, which was underscored with Bach’s orchestral suite, “The Air.” Not much lightness occurs here. This is an in-your-face take on the story. With its arena-style staging, the audience is no more than two rows from the stage, which is the bloodstained slaughterhouse-five.
That said, the play is best when Billy is on Tralfamadore. Actors with little flashlights represent Tralfamadorians with a whimsy that is missing elsewhere in the play.
Apparently the original 1996 Steppenwolf Theatre production of this play had one actor play Billy at all ages. This production has three. That may be the result of staging in such a small space: People can more readily accept one actor in all ages when they are at a distance than they can when they are just seven feet away.
The play is helped by a strong cast. Gregory Konow, who portrays Pilgrim in middle age, is the best of the Billys. Deanna McGovern who plays all the female roles, is more successful as Montana Wildhack, pornographic movie star who was kidnapped the Tralfamadorians to be Billy's mate, than as Valencia Pilgrim, Billy’s overweight wife. Then again, Playboy is hardly the place to complain that a woman is too sexy. Still I couldn’t help but think that perhaps one more actress and one fewer Billy would have helped.
Michael Shimkin, who looks like a cross between Jamie Farr and Marty Feldman, has an expressive face that serves him well in all his roles.
Slaughterhouse-Five does come together, but in a much different manner than I expected. When I read the book and saw the movie, I came away with a feeling sad helplessness. When I left this play, I was clenching my fists.
The production runs through February 17th.
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