by New Rep Reviewer Frank
Kate Warner opens her first season at New Rep with the classic play Mister Roberts. Being of a younger generation, I had not heard of the play nor the movie until New Rep announced this production. The play takes place on a Navy supply vessel and shows a perspective of war that does not always come to mind – the behind the scenes work of bringing supplies, the boredom, the tension. The ship is filled with a crew of good-looking men in uniform (occasionally shirtless) and one good-looking woman who show that war is more than just front-line combat, and, while the piece was written in the 1940s, it still resonates today. The play centers on Mister Roberts, a Lieutenant in the Navy who longs for the day he gets to see combat and really contribute in the war. We see his many attempts, with the help of his crew, to obtain a transfer from the ship’s captain as well as the complex relationships between the crewmembers. The play itself isn’t perfect and could end just fine without the last five minutes of the show, but is an interesting and sometimes funny portrayal.
The entire cast is strong, but especially strong are Thomas Piper as Mister Roberts and Paul D. Farwell as the captain – you can feel the tension in the room between the two of them. Patrick Lynch’s multi-level set, while simple, does a great job at evoking the ship – the only thing missing is having the set gently rock back and forth – something I’m sure the audience is grateful that it is missing. Molly Trainer’s attention to the crew’s costumes is amazing – you see all the sweat and the stains of a hard day’s work in the sun. Kudos should also go out David Wilson for his sound design incorporating many subtle background elements that really adds to the mood of the production. If you enjoy men in uniform, palm trees, Johnnie Walker Red Label, goats, soapsuds, and lots of alcohol – or if you’re curious as to what all these have to do with a Navy supply ship – check out Mister Roberts, a solid beginning to Kate Warner’s career with New Rep!
1 comment:
I would respectfully note that to lop off the last five minutes of the play would be to miss the whole point of the work. Pulver, after hearing the news about Mr. Roberts (no spoilers here), does exactly what his hero said would earn his respect. Not only that, he in a real sense emulates his hero and becomes the new Mr. Roberts, the crew's new advocate. It would be like ending "Citizen Kane" without the "rosebud" scene (which a local TV station actually once did!).
-an older audience member
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