HOW HIGH THE MOON – Theatre West
Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
California 1952, slightly after Second World War. Two families live next to each other in the San Fernando Valley and are connected above and beyond just being neighbors.
Amy Butler, beautifully portrayed by Caroline Quigley, is celebrating her 25th birthday. She is married to the boy next door Russell Butler (Matthew Gademske). But there are many frictions in that marriage.
Even though she should be proud for being a wife of a dentist, she is losing faith in her marriage… and stuck not having voice and just obeying. She feels lightheaded and lost. Her mother Violet Thompson (Jennifer Ashe) says to her, ‘Everyone’s life has a hole in it, it is our job to fill it.’
Her husband Russell cannot sleep. He is tossing and turning, grinding his teeth at night, and having nightmares. He just finished the dental school, and is supposed take over his father’s dental practice, but as it turns out – he does not like being a dentist. So, he decided to throw away that career.
At the same time, he has a dream of working with his uncle, a successful real estate agent, and building the valley, replacing the citrus plants with houses. His uncle Carl Butler (John Posey) gave him a book, The Power of Positive Thinking.’ So, he is excited, inspired, wants to be independent, and build.
His mother Millie Butler (Kathie Barnes) is extremely concerned about their marriage, because there is no ‘Happy noises coming out of their bedroom,’ just some strange distracting sounds.
But his dad Walter Butler (David Nathan Schwartz), who owns a dental clinic, expects his son to take over the clinic. He has been a bully all his life and cannot accept his son to disobey him.
When their other prodigal son Harrison Butler (Lane Compton) returns home as Silver Star Hero to celebrate 4th of July with a family, we discover many missing links. The war is behind him and in war, things happen. Life is hard and history keeps repeating itself.
Two brothers have not been in good terms but bonded over folding American flag. It was a beautiful moment when the brotherly love takes over.
Eventually, Amy’s older sister Allison Thompson (Anya Profumo) arrives, so everyone is here, except Amy’s father who is not a part of this family anymore, ‘He died in the saddle,’ they said for his cheating and being unfaithful.
It is the time of change when limitations must be replaced by new. The talented cast embrace their roles with full sincerity, and the tensions of the play are expressed with full emotional impact.
The equal rights, struggle to find her/his own voice and respect in the work environment and in the marriage, tensions between generations and we witness how difficult the change can be. Change is a necessity; the more we change, the better we become.
Uplifting Bing Crosby’s music is uplifting. At night beautiful fireworks appear on the wall behind. And the moon is there where it will be forever. The question is, on which side of the moon are we? Are we going for our dreams and how high is the moon to reach them?
Produced by Bonnie Kalisher Dukes Playing Productions & Theatre West, How High the Moon is written by Barbara Nell Berry and skillfully directed by Asaad Kelada. Running at Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Los Angeles on Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 3 p.m. The show runs through August 16. Runtime is approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.
The admission is $25 online and $35 at the door. Promo code for $20 tickets is SFV.
Tickets can be purchased at www.theatrewest.org.