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| Reggie (Lance Gardner, right) warns Dez (Christian Thompson) as Faye (Margo Hall) watches. (Photo by Kevin Berne) |
As playwright Dominique Morisseau tells it in
“Skeleton Crew,” uncertainty hangs over the lives of four black employees of
Detroit’s last auto stamping plant in 2008.
Marin Theatre Company is presenting the Bay Area
premiere of this Obie-winning drama as a co-production with TheatreWorks
Silicon Valley.
All of the action takes place in the plant’s break
room where the pregnant and unmarried Shanita (Tristan Cunningham), supervisor
Reggie (Lance Gardner), union representative Faye (Margo Hall) and edgy Dez (Christian
Thompson) have various conversations and confrontations.
Each has a concern. Shanita wants to be able to care
for her child. Reggie wants to support his wife and children and pay his
mortgage. He’s also torn between supporting the workers and appeasing
management.
Faye, a 29-year worker, wants to reach the 30-year
mark so that she can collect her full pension and keep her health benefits. Dez
wants to open his own business.
Faye is often the voice of reason, but she’s forced
to keep secrets. She and Reggie have ties that go way back and that are
gradually revealed. Shanita plays by the rules and tries to fend off Dez’s
flirting, but the chemistry develops. Dez appears to be dangerous and possibly
devious.
The characters are sometimes difficult to
understand. This is mainly true of Thompson as Dez, especially in his fast-talking
initial scenes.
Director Jade King Carroll orchestrates the
conversations and confrontations well. She’s aided in the effort by fine
performances by Hall as Faye, Cunningham as Shanita and Gardner as Reggie.
Thompson has a tougher task as Dez because the character isn’t always likable.
Since this is a co-production, Ed Haynes’ set was
built in TheatreWorks’ scene shop on the Peninsula and trucked to Mill Valley,
said TheatreWorks artistic director Robert Kelley, who was at opening night
with others from his company.
The lighting is by Steve Mannshardt, costumes by Callie
Floor, sound by Karin Graybash and projections by Mike Post.
Running about two hours with one intermission,
“Skeleton Crew” will continue through Feb. 18 at Marin Theatre Company, 397
Miller Ave., Mill Valley. For tickets and information, call (415) 388-5208 or
visit www.marintheatre.org.
The entire production, including set, costumes and
cast, will move to the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto,
for TheatreWorks’ presentation running March 7-April 1. For tickets and
information, call (650) 463-1960 or visit www.theatreworks.org.
