By JULES SHINKLE
BG Independent News
An empty grave worth thousands, a shrewd business deal, and nothing is quite as it seems: clearly, a plot is afoot at the local graveyard.
Black Swamp Players is putting on Will Eno’s “The Plot” this weekend at 115 E. Oak Street under the direction of Nancy Wright. The show will run two weekends, from Aug. 21-23 and 28-30. Friday and Saturday’s performances begin at 7:30 p.m., Sunday’s will start at 1:30 p.m.
Click here to purchase tickets. https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/black-swamp-players/6a0504e67ce46e1f74f1b474/tickets#/productions-view
The double-meaning behind this play’s title goes a long way in describing its central drama. Five characters are enmeshed in a struggle over a plot of land in a small, idyllic graveyard.
What transpires is a series of schemes that leave the audience guessing as to who truly has the upper hand.
Richard “Righty” Morse (Jeffrey Albright) recently purchased the land for his own grave, much to the chagrin of his wife Joanne (Wendie Kiskaddon). She’s taken on a caretaking role for Righty as of late due to the progression of his Alzheimer’s.
When he breaks the news about this recent purchase (made redundant by a gravesite they had already reserved), she views it as not only a financial blow, but another sign that her husband’s faculties are slipping.
Righty is insistent though – this place is his Eden, somewhere he actually feels at peace with himself. Exactly why he feels that way isn’t at first clear, and Joanne is torn between honoring Righty’s wishes and her own. When developers start calling about the plot, she hopes the issue can be resolved quickly without getting scammed.
Tim (John DuVall), whose blasé greed and selfishness is worn without a hint of shame, has no need for ulterior motivations. He’s a straightforward villain looking to buy the land and develop it into an industrial park. His indifference to sullying nature is only matched by his callous treatment of others, namely his assistant Donna (Hali Malecki), who joylessly carries out Tim’s orders.
Despite being constantly belittled, Donna holds out hope that he’s redeemable. Her faith doubles as a crutch for her own moral culpability – after all, pressuring an elderly couple into giving up their burial site isn’t exactly fulfilling work. Still, a job is a job. Donna sets up meetings with the Morses and placates her guilt by sweetening their deal so that they’ll be “taken care of.”
The wildcard in this affair is Grey (Jalesa Earby), an appointee from the historical commission whose job is to assess and preserve whatever can be saved from the graveyard’s imminent destruction. While he isn’t directly impacted by the sale of the plot, he greatly admires the space’s beauty, and as a result tries to tip the scales where he can.
A highlight of this production is its gorgeous set designed by Wright and built by Kevin Caudill. The graveyard, lush with green, genuinely looks like something worth fighting for. It’s easy to see why Grey takes up painting the plot, or why Righty would want to lie down here forever.
“The Plot” juggles a lot of tones, making it hard to pin down. On one hand, the portrayal of degenerative disease and Joanne’s grappling with it is sad and unflinching. On another, any scene involving Tim and his comic-levels of megalomania makes for light comedy. After a major plot twist, the play creeps into mystery territory. The title’s wordplay reflects its relationship to genre; “The Plot” is many things at the same time.
