Theatre Review : ‘Dark’ Myth Understandings

Mythology is what playwright Marsha Norman’s “Traveler in the Dark” stumbles over.

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When her protagonist, Sam, was a child, he caught his country preacher father messing up a magic trick. He also pretended to being saved at one of his father’s revivals, because everyone else was doing it. He was very, very smart, and he didn’t buy any of it: Santa or magic, nursery rhymes or God.

Norman doesn’t provide any answers in her family drama about traveling toward the light even if you can’t see it. But her discussions about the myriad myths that keep us all going are cogent and insightful and well worth listening to. They are mostly simplistic, but so is the will to believe--or not to.

Director Peter Senkbeil’s staging of the play at Concordia University is clear-cut and lucid and makes no judgments on Norman’s attempted conquest of the battle between honesty and truth, and the comfort of belief.

On Mark Henderson and Tim Farmer’s beautifully designed setting of father Everett’s back porch and overgrown yard, which is intricately and purposefully lit by Rob Wolter, Senkbeil ably makes his young cast enlarge itself to fit the older roles.

Mark Manning and Heather Manning as successful surgeon Sam and his rich wife, Glory, after a few minutes appear very close to the unhappy couple verging on middle-age.

If her voice remains a bit light for the age she’s playing, she makes up for it in understanding; his solid sense of responsibility--both to his aging father and to his own young son--makes up for the difference in age.

Even Steve Hinman, as the preacher Everett, captures some of the aura of the gentleness and rural wisdom of Everett’s background. Paul Henry is often effective as the 9-year-old son but isn’t as successful playing younger as his cohorts are playing older.

The production’s best moments, and Norman’s best writing, are the quiet, thoughtful scenes between Sam and his father, and between Sam and his son. As Sam balances his own shaky, truthful trail through the dark against the brightness that myths bring to his father and son, Manning makes the most of some difficult emotional transitions.

What they have accomplished under Senkbeil’s guidance is to capture the intent at the core of Norman’s modern parable and to give it a life of its own. In spite of the one-note currents of the writing throughout, the director and cast bring an individualistic approach to the subject.

* “Traveler in the Dark,” Studio Theatre, Concordia University, 1530 Concordia West, Irvine. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Sunday, 2 p.m. Ends Sunday. $5-$7. (714) 854-8002, Ext. 314. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes. Mark Manning: Sam

Heather Manning: Glory

Paul Henry: Stephen

Steve Hinman: Everett

A Concordia Theatre production of Marsha Norman’s drama. Directed by Peter Senkbeil, assisted by Derek Scally. Scenic design: Mark Henderson, Tim Farmer. Lighting design: Rob Wolter. Costume design: Mary Hoppenrath. Stage manager: Trinity King.