This fall, Theatre Pro Rata is bringing us a new play by local playwright/ actor/ improvisor Heather Meyer that feels like a modern Sam Shepard play, with some Greek tragedy and a little bit of soap opera mixed in. It's gorgeously designed to evoke that Western feel, well directed and acted, and cleverly scripted. It's the kind of play I wish I had time to see again, because all of the clues for the big twist are right there, if you know what you're looking for.
The Hired Man continues through October 10 at the Crane Theater in NE Minneapolis, which has recently taken possession of the gorgeous red velvet seats from our dear departed Jungle Theater, for extra comfort and nostalgia.
The story takes place on a ranch owned by Hank, and the precipitating event that sets off all of the drama is Hank finding his hired man Tim fooling around with his 18-year-old granddaughter Ellen, and promptly firing him. Ellen and Hank's girlfriend Georgette protest, the former saying it wasn't his fault, the latter saying Tim is like family. But Hank won't hear it, and soon finds a new hired man named Matty, an unusual choice since she is older than most hired men, and also not a man. But she's a hard worker, and the family soon warms to her, except for Georgie, who is jealous of the friendship developing between Hank and Matty. But Matty comes with baggage, in the form of a chain-smoking tough-talking woman who follows her around belittling her, but whom no one else can see. Who this woman is, what she's talking about, and how it all relates to this new position, will be revealed by the end of the play, but too late to prevent the tragedy that unfolds like a prophesy from the trickster gods.
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Ellen (Bee Davis) with the two hired men, Matty (Jessica Winingham)
and Tim (Phi Hamens Nelson, photo by Alex Wohlheuter) |
Jennie Ward directs the strong six-person cast, in what would be a great 90-minute-no-intermission play, if not for the intermission. Andy Chambers is convincing as the tough rancher with a tender heart for the women in his life, Jenny Ramirez equally so as the woman who loves him and is frustrated that he won't commit. Bee Davis may be older than 18, but she acts the part of the petulant teenager in a way that's equally charming and obnoxious. Jessica Winingham, who made her #TCTheater debut in Theatre Pro Rata's site-specific promenade production
Fefu and her Friends this spring, is just as great here in a much different role, with a nuanced performance as Matty, in all her layers and complications. Phi Hamens Nelson is sweet as the first hired man Tim, later taking a dark turn. Last but not least, Wini Froelich fully embodies the ghostly or imaginary mystery woman from Matty's past.
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Georgette (Jenny Ramirez) photographs grandfather (Andy Chambers)
and granddaughter (Bee Davis) on prom night (photo by Alex Wohlheuter) |
The stage at the Crane Theater has been transformed into a ranch with hay bales, weathered wooden benches, saddles, and more, so that you can almost see the dust and the tumbleweeds blowing. This realism is aided by the sound of cattle and other nature sounds, that make it easy to imagine we're on the ranch. The realistic costume design includes lots of denim, plaid, shearling, cowboy hats, and cowboy boots that look lived in. (Set design by MJ Leffler, lighting design by Lily Petit, costume design by Barb Portinga, sound design by Topher Pirkl.)
The first reading of The Hired Man was at Theatre Pro Rata in 2013, but for various reasons it took 13 years to bring a full production to life here in the Twin Cities, during which time it had productions all around the country and even internationally. It's about time they brought this dark and twisty little play back home. It's thoroughly engrossing, with characters that feel like real people, and an ending that's more than a little disturbing, as intended.
