Lena Winter stars in Last Train to Nibroc at the Capital Fringe Festival
A man and a woman sit
side-by-side on a train bound from California for Chicago, strangers until they
meet, like we all are. The time is World
War II.
He’s a recently discharged soldier ("medical
reasons"), and she’s a religious “goody goody,” sporting the hurt of a
recent break-up.
They share the train
with the coffins of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Nathaniel West, and I'm not sure
what that connection was, other than "Raleigh" (Justin McLachlan) is
an aspiring writer, and "May" (Lena Winter) is a reader. A religious reader, at that. It's the last train Fitzgerald and West will ride. Maybe it's May's "last chance."
It doesn't take long
for the two living travelers to discover their common link in Kentucky where
May is headed to meet family, but Raleigh is bypassing the state, his
homeplace, too, for New York.
Hold it: May has never been to Kentucky’s Nibroc
Festival (that's Corbin spelled backwards) and Raleigh invites her to go, of
course. She hesitates: "Do you
really want me to go?" Oh, come on,
May!
Like one might expect of a sheltered, conservative
woman brought up in an evangelical household, May shuns anything which remotely
suggests fun and excitement. With library shoes on her feet, an old-woman's hairstyle, and in a sedate
dress with a brooch conveniently pinned at the center to hide cleavage, May is correctly costumed for her role in the 1940s.
In the second scene (which could be eliminated),
Raleigh wears a wife-beater with suspenders, no belt, and a cap, perfect for the
era and quite a contrast to his military uniform in the first scene.
Their southern accents are a trifle overdone, and
their
conversations, not all sweetness and timid affection like one exudes when
trying to make a favorable impression.
(In WWII, I believe they called it "courting.")
Innocent conflicts
are heard over the three scenes spanning several years for, after all, what's a
performance without conflict? Not a
play.
Some of the dialogue
is redundant. However, the ending was a
surprise for I thought it was on a
different track.
Props are minimal
and totally adequate: a bench and two
chairs, and what more do you need? A
sunset. Provided.
The two actors made
me realize more than ever the wealth of talent found in Washington, D. C. which Fringe allows us to observe with its myriad,
versatile offerings. Some friends tell
me they love theatre but don't even know what I am talking about when I say
"Fringe." They don't get out much.
How could theatre-types not know Fringe? I like to say I am "doin'
the Fringe."
Another thing I adore
about this festival of independent works is the hole-in-the wall buildings
which come alive for some of the venues (all, air-conditioned!) like the Nibroc site conveniently located right
around the corners from Fringe Capital ("Fort Fringe") where you can
get good cold beer at reasonable prices and the best hummus and pita I've eaten.
On last
Saturday's hot afternoon, service was a mite slow, no doubt explained
by waitstaff and volunteers who have never waitstaffed or rung up a bill, but
the beer temperature and the tasty morsels made up for it.
Get out and support your local arts community and have a good time, too.
Last Train to Nibroc,
directed by Scott Sparks, written by Arlene Hutton, and presented by Homeward Theatre, was first staged by the New York International Fringe
Festival before it went on to Off-Broadway.
What: Last Train to Nibroc
When: July 17, 7:45
p.m.; July 21, 6:15 p.m.; July 24, 9:15 p.m.; July 26, 9:45 p.m.; July 28, 12
p.m.
Where: 612 L Street,
NW, Washington, D.C.
How much: $17 + a one-time charge for the $7 Fringe button required at all venues, or buy discounted
seats in multiples. Buy online or at the box office.
Metro stations: Metro Center, Mt. Vernon Square- Convention
Center, Gallery Place-Chinatown, Archives
For more
information: 866-811-4111
Language: Nothing offensive
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