You’ll laugh and think
Lively cast makes new play a delight at Trinity Rep
Trinity Rep’s ‘Appropriate’ is a comedy with depth
PROVIDENCE — The thing about “Appropriate” — and it’s a good thing — is that the play is different for everyone in the audience.
Each of us empathizes with the character, situation or observation that means the most to us because of our personal experiences, and “Appropriate,” more than some plays, fosters that kind of involvement.
This new play, now on stage at Trinity Rep, is often hilarious, at points brutal, and written with understanding. The cast is perfect, the direction is sharp, and the set speaks as clearly as the dialogue about where and why these characters are together.
The where is Arkansas, and the why is the death of the patriarch of the Lafayette family. The estranged offspring have gathered to sell the dilapidated estate, and while sorting through the detritus of their father’s lifetime, the family — two sons, a daughter, plus grandchildren and in-laws — discover a scrapbook with some racially horrifying photographs.
The discovery sets off efforts to reconcile this relic with the father, the childhood, and the adult-life experiences of the family members. It is the trigger, not the focus, of revelations, expression of long-held disappointments and anger, and even affection. But the racial aspect, the way each generation looks at the photos, both figuratively and realistically, gives this play another dimension.
The characters are written with acute observation by the playwright, 31-year-old Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, who won the 2014 Obie Award for this play and another of his works, “An Octoroon.” Most recently, Jacobs-Jenkins received a MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant.”
These people are familiar, be it the daughter who feels overburdened with responsibility, or her brother, who has made a mess of his life. But these characters are far from stereotypes; each has his or her own issues and biases that are gradually revealed.
The story unfolds the same way, bit by bit, an amalgam of different experiences and points of view. Director Brian Mertes unveils these revelations at a pace often used for clues in a murder mystery, which keeps you wondering where this story will go. Speaking of unveiling, Mertes and set designer Sara Brown have come up with a translucent curtain that swishes dramatically across the stage before each act to reveal the set. It’s the first time I’ve regarded a curtain as having a role in the story.
So where’s the humor? It comes in the way this family gathering falls into dysfunction. The repartee, the sarcasm, the looks that say, “You’ve GOT to be kidding,” are realistic — only funnier than real life. There’s also some dark stuff going on, and at one point, things get physical. While details aren’t all tied up, there is some resolution in the end.
All eight members of the cast get spotlight moments, but special note goes to Phyllis Kay, who is brilliant as the daughter Antoinette “Toni” Lafayette. You feel the heat of her anger, the depth of her despair; plus, she’s hilarious.
Angela Brazil brings outsider insight to her portrayal of Rachel Kramer-Lafayette, a daughter-in-law. Another “outsider” who nails the role is Marina Morrissey as the New Age-y River Rayner, given to saying things like, “The universe is rooting for you.” Her connection to the family is boyfriend Francois Lafayette, the messed-up brother played authentically by Mauro Hantman.
With three acts over about three hours, this is a lengthy play, but the hours go quickly thanks to the director’s pacing and these fantastic performances.
“Appropriate” continues through Nov. 6 in Trinity Rep’s Dowling Theater. Tickets are $25 to $71 and available at www.trinityrep.com, by calling (401) 351-4242, or at the box office in the theater, 201 Washington St.