The truth is fluid in Strollers’ “Paragon Springs”
Post by Christian Neuhaus on 9/26/2012 9:05am
Strollers Theatre opens its 2012 - 2013 season with Paragon Springs, a drama with equally resonant personal and political dimensions.
The play’s title comes from its setting, a small Wisconsin town in 1926 whose economy is built on the tourism from its healing waters. Town resident Dr. Thomas Stockman discovers that the water essential to the town’s livelihood is actually “a cauldron of disease,” a discovery that initially receives the town’s gratitude.
However, as the disastrous ramifications of the discovery become evident, the townspeople become much less willing to accept the truth presented by Dr. Stockman. (How much less? To give you an idea, Paragon Springs is based on a play by Henrik Ibsen called An Enemy of the People.)
The first act sets the pieces in motion, introducing Dr. Stockmann’s discovery, the initial enthusiastic reception, and the opposition by Dr. Stockman’s brother Peter, mayor of Paragon Springs. The second act provides interesting rhetorical stratagems as Mayor Stockman undertakes to convince the town to disregard his brother’s findings. The climax is a nighttime assembly on the outskirts of town in which the two brothers address the people, their voices carried by the new medium of radio.
Dr. Stockman doesn’t help his case with combative assertions that make remarks about “the 47%” appear as objectionable as mispronouncing the name of a local alderman. It’s a well-executed scene constructed by director Meghan Randolph — with the characters addressing the audience directly and eerie lighting by Phil Koenig, it engages the audience in a way that that’s uniquely suited to live theater.
Christopher Younggren as Dr. Stockman displays a vigorous, outta-my-way nobility that achieves an interesting dual effect of bringing in the audience while simultaneously putting us on guard. As Dr. Stockman’s wife Katrina, Kelly Fitzgerald’s presence provides vital emotional anchoring to Stockman’s crusading impulses. Paul Lorentz as Mayor Stockman exhibits an oratorical slyness that’s enjoyable to watch as he engages in his damage control campaign.
To lighten the mood along the way there are some entertaining moments from Donald Dexter as a garrulous old citizen whose contributions to the community include providing “clandestine refreshment.” Also enjoyable where the exchanges between Katrina and Widow Kroger (Mickey Crocker), ostentatious in dress and in manner.
The events of Paragon Springs illustrate how the personalities of those promoting a cause, self-interest, and majority opinion influence what one accepts as “the truth.” The authenticity and appeal of the performances made feel regretful about where the relationship between Dr. Stockman and his community ended up, but the ideas of the play remain worth examining and discussing well after the play’s conclusion.
Paragon Springs is at the Bartell Theatre until October 6. Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with a 4 p.m. matinee on Saturday September 29. Former Assembly member and Sierra Club national board member Spencer Black will host a talkback following the performance on September 27, and Greg Hunolt, President of Wisconsin Antique Radio Club, will host a talkback following the matinee on the 29th. Tickets are $20 ($15 for students and senior citizens) and the performance is two hours.
Christian Neuhaus
Contributor
Christian Neuhaus is a writer whose comic short plays have been produced by local theater groups. You've Ruined a Perfectly Good Mystery!, a play he wrote with Dane101 contributor Rick Stemm, sold out its world-premiere run in Madison, was part of the 2011 New York International Fringe Festival, and was voted Favorite Theater Production in Isthmus's 2011-2012 Madison's Favorites poll. In March 2011 his comic retelling of the Sherlock Holmes story "The Red-Headed League" was among the plays in Novel Ideas, performed by Actor's Factory. In March 2012 Christian was part of the first performance of Are We Delicious?, where the ensemble develops a set of eight short plays within a single week.
That was 15 years ago, I went
Submitted by coach factorysasa on Fri, 2012-10-26 04:40.
That was 15 years ago, I went to the city on business, leaving coach outlet online the subject of business, I go to the mall to buy some gifts to colleagues. Usually, when I go shopping like to carry some coins, because the mall near sometimes begging people to twelve coins in my heart will ease some. This day as well, still some coins in the pocket, coach factory outlet so I will give a coach outlet store bunch of little beggars begging ten a few coins scattered. Just then, I saw a boy holding a sign high and looked at me, no doubt, that he would like to get my attention. I went to him in the past, to see his girl of coach purses outlet thirteen-year-old, poorly dressed very clean, hair combed neatly. He is not like the others hands take a Tang Cigang, his brand side painted with a boy in a shoe, the side that says - "I want a shoeshine box.
I was doing investment business, anyway, there is still time, I asked the boys how much money is needed, the boy said: "125."
I shook my head, and said he wants the shoeshine box is too expensive. Boy say no more expensive, also said he has been to four wholesale markets, have seen, want to buy a dedicated box, stool, good clean oil, good soft brush, the dozen shoe polish, to reach 125 yuan his request. Boy, speaking in tongues, right rhythmic.
I asked him how much money is now in the hands, the boy imagined, said to have 35 yuan, 90 yuan less also. I have carefully looked at the boy, determined he was not a little liar, then took out his wallet, took out 90 yuan, said: "90 dollars to you, be my investment. Condition, took the money from you this moment, we are a partner. I stay for five days in the city within five coach factory online days, you should not only gave me 90 dollars, I would also like to have a dollar of interest if you promise this condition, 90 yuan is now owned by you. "
The boy excitedly looked at me Mankoudaying the. The boy also told me that he read the sixth grade, every week only to go on three days lessons, other days to cattle, sheep, help mothers farming, his results did not slide down over the top three, so he Best. I asked him why they buy the shoeshine box, he said that the family was poor, and he wants to take advantage of the summer and save enough tuition.
I looked at the boy in an appreciation of the psychological, then take him to the wholesale market to buy a shoe shine boxes and various other shoeshine appliances. Boy carrying a box, ready to be placed under the stall at the mall entrance. I shook my head and said, as his partner, in order to recover their costs, and the obligation to remind him to choose the place of business. Mall within the free shoe shine, a lot of people know. Boy seriously thought, asked: "election in the hotel opposite how?" I thought, here is a tourist city, a car a car every day to live in the hotel, they traveled the next day to travel definitely need shoes polished. Think of these, I promised him.
So the boy settled in the vicinity of the coach outlet hotel entrance, his shoeshine box into a little farther away from the door, he see no one around and said to me: "Why do not I paid a dollar interest? You should know my level of service. "Puchi" laugh, this little guy was witty, he is going to give me Shoe of which $'s interest with shoeshine charges arrived. I appreciate his shrewd, they sit him on the bench, said: "if you polished bad to prove that you're lying, my investment to a dishonest person to prove my investment failed." The boy's head Akira like a rattle, says he is the best, and his shoeshine training practice at home for a month. You know, not many people in rural areas and a few pairs of good shoes, he is the one to let them shoes out, carefully wipe polished.
A few minutes later, looking at the shoes light can Kam people, I nodded with satisfaction. Out of coach outlet store your pocket red pen, wrote the two characters in his left and right cheek: "Best" boy music. Just then, a minibus car with a car over visitors, he quickly carrying a shoeshine box ran over and pointed to his face after another to get off the travelers, said: "This is my reward customer, you want to try? your shoes I would become a mirror. "In this way, the boys busy ...
The next day, I came to the hotel to see the boy early to keep stalls, he excitedly told me yesterday he earned 50 dollars removing me 18 yuan, dinner spend three, his net surplus of 29 yuan. I patted him on the head, and bless him for good. He said that last night, did not sleep Bridge, but sleep Chase Shop, but did not pay 5 dollars bunk money, I doubt how beds will not pay money? In this case, the boy smiled smugly: "I help the boss and the boss rub a dozen pairs of shoes, tonight, I also do not have money to stay."
Five days passed quickly, I want to leave this city, and five days, the boy also 18 yuan, also enough 90 yuan. The boys know that I coach factory outlet online am louis vuitton purses the manager of an investment company in Beijing, said to be and so he graduated from university, will go to Beijing to look for me, saying, he stretched out a small black hand, I have also lent a hand, the two stingy clenched together ......
Stroke, was actually 15 years.
I left the original investment in the company, he opened a trading company. This day, I'm the office boggling, because of the unexpected loss of a large number of goods, working capital is facing difficulties, the Quartet in debt payment. Just put down the phone, the secretary came in and said there was a young man of cheap coach purses about my lunch, I asked who Touyebutai, secretary to come up with a key chain, put on my desk, looking at this key chain, and I froze lived, that the above is a glass Winnie, Winnie the coach factory forehead engraved on three words: "I am the best".
I think of it, this key chain, stuffed into his palm gift 15 years ago I Shoe juvenile parting handshake.
By noon, I walked into the hotel, book a good seat stood up in suits and ties, the young people of the British Gas is pressing. His subtle smile, slightly curved waist towards me. From his face, I found little then shadow Shoe young. Tea, he took out a five million check, said: "I want to invest in your company, the profits arrived back within five years."
5 million, it is timely help!
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