By Shirley Lorraine –
Caregivers – Volunteers – Human Beings – Anyone concerned with how they can help others –should attend one of the final performances of How Can I Help? now playing backstage at Santa Paula Theater Center. The production is enlightening, validating and emotionally charged.
Author and director Victoria McGee presents a series of vignettes that are adapted from a book first published in 1988 by spiritual leader Ram Dass and Paul Gorman. The combined work examines the nature of caring through stories and reflections on being of service to others.
Presented in just over one hour with no intermission, the six members of the ensemble cast offer succinct situations in which some may find themselves. Whether personally experienced or not, the consistent message in each is still loud and clear. That is; to be of the best service to others, the key is to listen in order to understand the plight of another.
The ensemble cast includes Peter Tussey, Sarah Boughton, Emily Vallance, Leticia Mattson, Martha Benavides, and Bill Mattson. Each actor glides seamlessly from vignette to vignette. With minimal set pieces that are easily reconfigured to meet the need, examples of human interactions in varied settings are brought forward for examination and introspection.
Having experienced several of the instances provided, I found myself identifying with both sides of the staged conversations with renewed understanding. What appears straightforward never is in the “caring” world. There is always more to the story – if we’d only take the time to listen more carefully.
The play takes a look at familiar scenarios surrounding health, health care, social work, homelessness and more from both the caretaker and the cared for person’s viewpoint. It is this extraordinary dialogue that carries impact and causes one to think more deeply. At least it did for me.
If you haven’t experienced the newly redesigned backstage area, you really must try it. With double doors opening off the lounge area, you immediately enter the stage area then cross to the abundant comfortable seating. A control booth has been built above the entry. The entire room has now become the stage, and you are a part of it. Don’t be late – once the doors are closed, if you enter, you may find yourself part of the action.
Backstage has proven to be a valuable part of SPTC, a venue for classes of many kinds, one-act festivals (Playapalooza coming up in May) as well as a rehearsal space. The innovative design is quite adaptable to variable uses.
The Santa Paula Theater Center is running a 40 for 40 campaign to honor its 40th year of staging thoughtful, educational, and deeply emotional works both on the mainstage and backstage. Each $40 contribution will assist in keeping the historic venue alive and well maintained for many more years to come.
Performances of How Can I Help? Continue through March 22. Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. 8805-525-4645, www.santapaulatheatercenter.org.
https://www.santapaulatheatercenter.org/volunteer.html
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