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"Still Life With Iris" blossoms into a enjoyable evening of theater
By Tamara Goodrich
Guest Writer
FILE PHOTO
The cast (minus Noah Thomas) poses for a quick photo around the "still life" centerpiece.
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"Still Life With Iris" is not your average framed, fruit'n'flowers canvas. In fact, Still Life With Iris is anything but still. This play is bustling with characters that tickle and warm the heart. By the end of the show you will have that feeling of warm, cookies and milk before bed, which sweetens dreams and softens pillows.
"Still Life With Iris" is a children’s play that has all the qualities a good story should.: heros, friends, and the not so nice. It is set in a little place called Nocturno, where all you see by day is made by the people of the town at night. Each person has an important job to do. There is a thunder bottler, a wind instructor, a fog lifter, a flower painter, and a color mixer. The frolicking spotters must find dots for the ladybugs.
The studious leaf monitor must count and tally each and every leaf making sure one is never lost of overlooked. The tenacious tailor is in charge of mending and sewing memories back onto the coats of the town’s people. And everyone in Nocturno knows that they must take good care of their coats, otherwise they’ll get a tare and go and forget something important.
The secret of Still Life With Iris is understanding the timeless moments that each of us have as we remember them. This play questions how important the past really is. It asks us who we would be without it. What things from your childhood will never be forgotten? What could you part with, and what would you never be able to let go of?
The main character, Iris, played by Anne Wisotzke, has the sad memory of loosing her father one night. During the play, Iris is searching for the truth and her lost identity which was stolen by the Goods. The Goods are the rulers of Great Island and have only the best possessions. After discovering Iris has a knack for finding lost items the Goods decide they want her to be their perfect daughter. Mr. Good, played by Brian Farish is the essence of hilarious royalty, and also is quite good at stating the obvious. Mrs. Good, played by Emily Vitton is particularly high class and has an eye for perfection. These two actors carry the Goods to levels of unrivaled poppycock, and enter with style.
Even the hired help have definable personas, such as Mr. Himtoo, played by Noah Thomas.
Many of the actors play more than one character. This I found to be humorous at times because the roles are almost opposite pairs of characters. Young to old, grouchy to timid, or wild to conscientious. This allows the actors a lot of room to play, which I thought they did quite well.
There are also some famous characters who make appearances as Iris’ new friends. Annabell Lee, played by Beth Gunnink, is the heroine of the poem "Annabell Lee," written by Edgar Allan Poe. Motz, or as we know him, Wolfgang Amadaus Mozart, is played by Brandon Langeland, and is stuck trying to compose his latest work. One of my favorite characters was the seldom seen Ray, played by Rae Westerhof, and who reminded me of the Adams family’s It.
The plot picks up when Iris is visited by Mr. Matternot, played by Jeremy Den Ouden. Matternot convinces poor Iris that it would be better not to pine away for her father. He says that if she was to be happy, she should accept the Goods invitation to go live on Great Island. Iris hesitates, but frustrated and saddened by her loss she gives her jacket to Mr. Matternot.
Before leaving her home, Iris is given a missing button (which fell off her jacket) by Mrs. Overlook, played by Laura Hoksbergen, that she carries with her to Great Island. The button is Iris' key to her past. Every time she holds the button she remembers her kitchen table surrounded by three chairs, and knows there must be more to life than the Goods’ perfection.
"Still Life With Iris" is a children’s play ,so imagination is required. The cast charms viewers with colorful costumes, fine performers, and engages the audience by performing in the round. The script is as clever as "Monster’s Inc." and the heroine is as sweet and brave as Little Red Riding Hood.
"Still Life With Iris" is entertaining for eight year olds, grandmothers, college students, and dads. It lightens one’s spirit and explores one’s imagination. It teaches us we don’t know who we are without having the memories of who we were. Overall, "Still Life With Iris" is quite moving, and it blossoms into a recommendable joy.
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