Theater Reviews

Jul 11, 2008 - Bruka Theatre's compelling production of Caryl Churchill's provocative "Cloud Nine"

By Jack Neal

If you have a “Cloud Nine” fantasy about participating in the sexual revolution, then you have much in common with playwright Caryl Churchill’s “Cloud Nine.” Ms. Churchill and her play have an obsession with sex.

Bruka Theater presents innovative, thought-provoking plays. Churchill’s “Cloud Nine” is the kind of play Bruka likes to tackle and tackle with passion.

“Cloud Nine” is about power politics and sexual attitudes. The play’s time frame is in two parts. Part I (Act I) takes place in late nineteenth century British Colonial Africa, where the sexual repression of the Victorian era is explored in an avalanche of humor and blunt sexual activity. Part II (Act II), takes place 100 years later in contemporary London - although the play’s characters have aged only a quarter of a century – where sexual repression gives way to the pre-AIDS epidemic of sexual freedom that threw the door wide open to vastly changed attitudes on human sexual behavior.

Churchill’s characters suffer extremes of sexual confusion, from role reversal to bisexuality, incest, adultery and homosexuality. Depending on how liberal one’s attitude about such matters might be, all of these states of sexuality are openly portrayed within the confines of good taste in this production. That makes it a “for mature audiences only” event.

The play, which runs just over three hours with intermission, is an exploration of maturing and interpersonal relationships, that - the longer one lives, the older one gets - makes “Cloud Nine” ever more meaningful, and a tour de force for actors. Especially actors playing multiple roles. Roles that are switched from Part I to Part II.

The sculpting of this complicated, difficult script has been placed in the adroit hands of director Androo Allen. Allen, who ties the play’s diverse vignettes seamlessly together, has challenged his actors to dig deep into the soul of their characters. Each manage their roles with intelligence and wit.

Bill Ware is Part I’s rigid father, who sees life in terms of Queen Victoria and a British Empire where the sun never sets. In Part II he’s the son who knows he’s homosexual, but because he likes women, concludes he’s a lesbian. Jorge Hoyos is brilliant as Part I’s unhappy mother (an astonishingly believable cross-gender characterization), and later in Part II as Gerry, a highly active gay man searching for fulfillment.

As Edward, the young boy in Part I, Linda Retner subtly captures Edward’s confused sexual identity, then turns in a powerful performance in Part II as Victoria, a sexually confused young mother. In Part I, Hannah Neace plays a grandmother who has lived her life for duty of country and family. In Part II, she’s an unrepressed lesbian taking every advantage to exploit her sexual freedom. Jamie Plunkett is the sultry Mrs. Saunders who finds that being a widow gives her vast windows of sexual opportunity.

Lewis Zaumeyer brings humor to the dual roles of African explorer and the husband who masks his chauvinism with feminist cliches. Tom Plunkett is over-the-top (and very funny) as the wickedly naughty native houseboy in Part I, who becomes the bratty little girl in Part II.

In her two roles, Mary Bennett is nothing less than superb. In Part I she’s Maud the nursemaid who’s mad about Betty, the mother of the child she’s attending. In Part II, she IS Betty the mother Maud loved in Part I. Now she’s a loving lesbian mother who’s the most normal of the play’s characters. Bennett’s closing monologue is brilliantly brought off – a genuinely poignant moment.

As usual, the sets (credit Lewis Zaumeyer and Androo Allen), lighting (credit David Simpson) and costumes (credit Mary Bennett and Cast) of this Bruka presentation are all first-rate.

“Cloud Nine” is not an easy play for audience or players. How fortunate Reno theatergoers are to have a fine, tight-nit company that does such refined, intelligent work. With the Bruka Theatre Company in residence, theater is alive, well and thriving in Reno.

Bruka Theatre’s production of “Cloud Nine” plays July 10 (the performance reviewed), 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 (2008) at 8 p.m., and July 20 (2008) at 2 p.m., Bruka Theatre, 99 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada, $16-$25. For information call 775-323-3221 or go on line at bruka.org.