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| Doremus Jessup (Vic Prosak) talks with his friend Lorinda (Carla Befera). (Photo by David Allen) |
As if the current political climate weren’t
worrisome enough for many people, Foothill Theatre Arts presents “It Can’t
Happen Here.”
It chronicles the rise of a populist presidential
candidate who promises better times, wins the office and then oversees the
country’s rapid demise into fascism and cruel repression.
Sinclair Lewis wrote his prescient novel in 1935
when rabble-rousing Huey Long was running for president (he was assassinated
before being nominated) against Franklin Roosevelt and Hitler’s Nazi regime was
rising in Europe.
Tony Taccone, artistic director of Berkeley
Repertory Theatre, and Bennett S. Cohen created their new version early last
year, and it premiered at Berkeley Rep later that year.
Thomas Times plays Buzz Windrip, the charismatic
candidate. His stump speech sounds like a revival meeting. Times is black, thus
negating racial aspects, but it’s unlikely that a black man would win the presidency in the 1930s. However, Times does such a good job that it’s easy
to suspend disbelief.
As Windrip gains traction, Doremus Jessup (Vic
Prosak), a liberal newspaper editor in a small Vermont town, abhors what he’s
doing but tries to understand his appeal. Jessup’s strongest supporter is
Lorinda (Carla Befera), an innkeeper who’s also his girlfriend, even though
he’s married.
The plot focuses on Jessup as his situation grows
worse and worse.
Skillfully directed by Bruce McLeod, the large cast is a mix of students and community members, the latter led by Prosak and Befera, who provide solid grounding to the action.
Some other noteworthy performers are Alexis
Standridge as Sissy, Jessup’s loyal daughter; and Seton Chiang, who does double
duty as Bishop Prang, the evangelical churchman who endorses Windrip, and as Effingham
Swan, the menacing militiaman who grills Jessup after his capture.
Design elements enhance the production with sets and
projections by Lynn Grant, lighting by Dan Wadleigh, costumes by Chiara Cola
and sound by Max Stanylov.
Running about two hours with one intermission, this
scary play nevertheless ends on an updated, hopeful note with the actors on
their smartphones texting this message: “Make America human again.” It’s worth
seeing.
“It Can’t Happen Here” continues through Nov. 19 in
the Lohman Theatre, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. For
tickets and information, call (650) 949-7360 or visit www.foothill.edu/theatre/.
