Volume CXXXIII, Number 9 November 9, 2001 f

Lanford Wilson's Book of Days
MATT SPOONER
STAFF WRITER

It might seem awkward to mention September 11 at the beginning of an article about the Bowdoin theater department's production of Lanford Wilson's play Book of Days. Still, it seems that ever since that fateful day, people are compelled to look closer at their country, their world, and their lives. Maybe, then, it isn't such a bad introduction after all.

"We're all in a very unsettled state," said director and theater department head David Robinson. "But if any art-form can help us figure out what makes us tick, what motivates people, it's the theater."

Book of Days does just that. The play chronicles a year in the life of the fictional small town Dublin, Missouri and the attempt of cheese factory bookkeeper Ruth Hoch to seek truths after the sudden death of the town patriarch. More than that, Robinson says, the play is also about moral complexities.

"As I read the play, my mind keeps coming back to Barry Mills speech where he spoke about 'the common good.' Book of Days is very much about just how complicated that is. [Playwright] Wilson isn't interested in a well-rounded diatribe--[the play] is gray on gray."

To those who are familiar with Wilson's work, this should come as little surprise. The Pulitzer-prize winning playwright of Tailey's Folley and Fifth of July has become renowned for drama that touches, rather than delves into truths and leaves the audience to struggle with dreams and failures alongside his characters.

"Wilson grew up as a country boy who knew how to milk cows," Robsinson explained. "When he returned to the south, he became worried with how unquestioning people were. [Because of that], his plays focus on something that we certainly need to be looking at: question authoirity all the time."

Wilson's work is often compared with the famous Russian playwright Anton Chekov for his deft mastery of language and sense of place. Fortunately, the winner of two New York City Drama Critics awards for best play, a Drama-Desk award, and a Drama-Logue award, is allowing his play to appear at Bowdon's Pickard theater before its New York premier.

"With the elections last year, the idealism of the people who teach and learn here … this play really rang true," Robinson said about his choosing Book of Days. "Also, I wanted to direct a show with a smaller cast, to focus on acting values. Plus it's a great story and it's very funny."

Much like Our Town did a few decades ago, Book of Days paints a picture of small town life and through it touches on morals, values, and clashes that the characters deal with. And like Our Town, Book of Days features a play within a play.

"I love any play that deals with life in the theater," Robinson said. "Most of all though, it's entertaining and it has ideas that are worth entertaining."

Set designer Judy Gailen agreed. "It keeps coming at you," she said. She said the set she designed was inspired by the sparseness of the play and the theme of happenings taking place behind closed doors. In contrast to the spectacular set that was made for last year's The Visit, Gailen designed a set that would put the actors at the forefront.

Aside from that, though, Robinson and Gailen won't reveal much. After all, it is a mystery play. "It's exciting, funny, and entertaining and I hope everyone in Maine comes to see it," Robsinson grinned.