By Crystal Hayduk
A Texas family coping with loss through shared memories, music, and humor is on stage at The Purple Rose Theatre Company (PRTC). “Bastard,” a world premiere by former Detroit Local 4 news anchor Devin Scillian, is PRTC’s 36th season opener.
At first glance, it seems as if the Lambert brothers have little in common besides their DNA. As middle-aged adults, they have different careers, styles, and perspectives. One has a beautiful family and the other has had a series of marriages and romantic relationships.
But when their mother dies, the sons manage what she leaves behind while reliving their past and facing their future, even as they grieve her absence.
Mark Colson plays Jake Lambert, the cool older brother who’s been living with his mom in a small town. He’s a country music singer and guitarist whose former big hits are still popular, but it’s been a while since he’s written anything new.
Joe Kathrein portrays the younger brother, Beau Lambert. To escape the shadow of Jake’s successes, Beau flees to the big city where he becomes a prosperous businessman.
Empathy overflows for both Jake and Beau, as the actors express the fresh grief of these brothers well. They’re both likable with their quick, dry wit, and their Southern accents lend credibility to the play’s setting.
Beau’s wife, Mary Beth, is played by Hallie Bee Bard. An experienced actress, Bard is new to the PRTC stage, but she served as an apprentice in 2003. She portrays a lovely, affluent wife and mother and clearly has a gift for realistic crying on cue.
Cameron is Beau and Mary Beth’s son, played by PRTC newcomer Danny Ayotte. This young man’s performance was impressive, and he will be one to watch in the future. He also plays a delivery man, but between his acting and Erin Routh-Smith’s costuming, it’s the program that confirms he is the same person.
Ayotte steals the show with his vocal and guitar performance of “In the Garden” for his grandmother’s funeral. The combination of music and Mario Raymond’s lighting design with scene transitions is breathtaking. In the show I attended, the audience responded organically with applause as the final chord faded.
A PRTC favorite, John Seibert returns as Shiner, Jake’s agent. Theatre has been Seibert’s life, and it shows with his direct action and spot-on humor.
Hope Shangle rounds out this cast of six as Sparrow, Jake’s current love interest. She’s far too young for Jake, but she’s there because it’s her mission to help “wounded birds” when they fall into her lap. Even though Sparrow doesn’t know Lambert family history, she knows people. She fearlessly shares her wisdom with spunk and positive energy that bring light to a dark place.
Sam Transleau has designed an elaborate home, with the profusion of flowers leaving no doubt that a well-loved person has died. (With artificial arrangements, there’s no aroma for allergy sufferers to be concerned about.) Beau calls the home a “shrine” to Jake with mementos of his past achievements throughout.
Scillian is not only a journalist, but also a children’s book author, musician, and songwriter. In the program notes, he wrote that he had entered the University of Kansas with the intent to study theatre, but “… fell hard for journalism ….” While in college, he continued his involvement with theatre, hoping to return to it later.
Following retirement from television news, he wondered what his 20-year-old self would tell him. He remembered his promise to return to theatre later.
“Later” is now, with his first play on stage, inspired by his wife Corey’s belief, “Everyone is entitled to their story.”
Scillian has written a family drama we all can identify with, infused it with a healthy dose of humor, and beautifully redeemed it.
Content advisory: This production contains adult content and may not be suitable for children under 13 years old.
Sensory/technical notice: Please be advised that water-based theatrical smoke/haze effects are utilized during this production.
“Bastard” at the Purple Rose Theatre Co.
- What: World premiere comedy; performance with no intermission.
- When: Now playing through Dec. 20.
- Where: The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park St., Chelsea
- Playwright: Devin Scillian
- Director: Rhiannon Ragland
- Cast: Mark Colson, Joe Kathrein, Hope Shangle, Hallie Bee Bard, Danny Ayotte, and John Seibert
- Designers: Scene and projections by Sam Transleau, costumes by Erin Routh-Smith, lighting by Mario Raymond, and sound by Eric Hohnke
- Production staff: Stage manager: Ryan Carlson, assisted by Ethan Menzies; managing director: Katie Hubbard
Tickets
Tickets are available online at The Purple Rose Theatre Company or by calling the box office at 734-433-7673.
About the Purple Rose Theatre Company:
Founded in 1991 by actor and Chelsea native Jeff Daniels, The Purple Rose Theatre Company is a professional, unionized theatre and creative home for local Michigan artists to produce original American plays. Patrons experience an intimate encounter with live theatre without breaking the bank. Broadway quality at Midwest prices.
After two seasons of farcical comedies and knee-slappers, The Purple Rose is promising a season that’s still bringing the laughter, just a little more grounded. This season is all about family and everything that goes with that. Comedy with secrets, characters with a past, hilarity with heart. After all, isn’t that what family is all about?
