Whether acting or directing, whatever Richard Baird does, he
does it to perfection. Case in point, he is currently directing “An Experiment
With An Air Pump” by Shelagh Stephenson for Backyard Renaissance Company’s
second production at the Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre on the UC Campus in
La Jolla through Sept. 1st and it’s a winner.
Four -year old Backyard Renaissance Theatre is currently the
resident theater chosen for the 2018-19 year to use the La Jolla Playhouse’s
facility and all the tools that come with it.
Other BYR productions have been mounted in smaller spaces in
and around the San Diego area. The history of their successes has been nothing
less than exemplary.
‘Air Pump' is the most ambitious… and it is a hit!
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| The Painting |
The 1768 15x12 painting by Joseph Wright of Derby “An
Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump” (of a natural philosopher conducting an
experiment) sets the stage for the story as introduced by Susannah (a marvelous
Susan Angelo) who remembers the painting as a child of thirteen: “this painting
set my heart racing, it made the blood tingle in my veins: I wanted to be a
scientist.”
The play is set between 1799 and 1999, at the turn of two
centuries. The family home in New Castle on Tyne, belongs to Joseph Fenwick
(Robert Smyth) a physician who wants to change the world and is very vocal
about his opinions.
 |
| Justin Lang and Jessica John |
His wife Susannah (excellent Ms. Angelo) their two daughters, Harriet
(Caroline Keeler and Maria (Oliver Cordell), their maid Isobel (Jessica John)
and two house- guests, both physicians, Armstrong (Francis Gercke), who is
interested in the human body and Roget (Justin Lang, a physician who wants to
understand the world, complete the seven-member -exceptional cast.
Fenwick, the quintessentially wonderful Robert Smyth, who is deeply immersed in medical research has neglected his wife Susannah, who was a poet in her past life but neglected by lack of affection has led her to drink. Any affection that was once is as acid as tasting as cheap wine. She pushes her two daughters (one reluctantly) to study the arts; perhaps write a play.
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| Susan Angelo, Caroline Keeler (back to us) and Olivia Coredll |
Harriet is on board, but wants to be a scientist like her
father and is doing this to please her mother. Maria is in the middle of a meltdown spurned
by long distance letter writing companion and her head is elsewhere.
Scottish maid Isobel (spot on Jessica John), who is a hunchback,
plays a key role, as one of the props in the Fenwick children’s’ play (she is a
goat) but more importantly, she becomes the object of Armstrong’s interest and affection
if not cruelty that turns the tables in the long run, from hope to murder- mystery.
 |
| Jessica John and Francis Gercke |
It doesn’t go unnoticed by Roget who is dismayed by
Armstrong’s deception even though, as Armstrong explains, his attention is more
for scientific than sexual.
In 1999 the discovery of human bones by workman Phil (Gercke)
buried underneath the floor of the once Fenwick’s now to be sold or remodeled
home by the now new owners, Tom (Smyth) and his wife Ellen (Angelo) become a
sort of detective story that bounces back to 1799 where it all began and
Stephenson begins to fill in the blanks and unravel the pieces set into motion
two centuries ago.
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| Susan Angelo and Robert Smyth |
The 1999 modern day couple are on the verge of making big
decisions about their futures; Ellen a now a genetic researcher and Tom,
retired and feeling like an extra cog on a wheel, cannot fathom Ellen’s
research on embryos. He thinks it’s unethical and delves into their own
personal losses as a reminder of the grief such research can visit. She is more
optimistic sighting the hope it can bring to science and young couples.
She has been offered a huge position to do genetic research with
her friend Kate’s (an excellent Caroline Keeler as Harriet and Kate) research
company. They go back and forth on the reasons she should/not take the job. Ellen hopes he will find something meaningful as a history professor
and lecturer as he was before he, ahem, found himself to be a dinosaur.
 |
| Cast of An Experiment With An Air Pump |
With more questions than answers about ethical decisions in
experimenting with human life, science and art, the nature of humanity, the
responsibilities that come with those studies, stem-cell research, genetics and
what they can tell us and why we need them or not, the impact of historical
events, gender roles in both centuries and religion; how it fits into the whole
picture of man’s thinking is a whole lot to absorb in one sitting.
As mentioned above, with deft direction by Baird and a
skilled and engaged cast and clever and nuanced dialogue, yours truly was
completely engrossed and absorbed in in the whole experiment.
Shout outs to lighting designer Joel Britt, costume designer
Jeanne Reith, scenic and properties to Tony Cuczella, sound designer TJ Fucella
and woman of many talents Vanessa Dinning dialect instructor. When these ears
can understand many dialects, we’re in good shape.
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| Robert Smyth, Justin Lang and Francis Gercke |
Nothing less than two thumbs up in recommending “An Experiment
With An Air Pump”, with Backyard Renaissance.
See you at the theatre.
Dates: Through Sept. 1st.
Organization: Backyard Renaissance Theatre
Phone: 585-550-1010
Production Type: Drama
Where: UC San Diego, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla.
Ticket Prices: $18.00-$35.00
Web: backyardrenaissance.com
Venue: La Jolla Playhouse’s Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre
Photo: Daren Scott
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