Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
When two talented, accomplished actors are involved in the multi-award nominated play – we have a masterpiece in the making. If you love good, emotionally powerful theatre, this production comes highly recommended.
Two brothers, who never resolved the traumas from their childhood, are lost in the perplexity of life. They are confused about who they really are and what the relationship should be with each other, so they ignore it – until they are forced to confront it. A deep troublesome past is haunting them. As theyreconnect after many years of not communicating, under life-changing circumstances, they discuss the looming death of their mother, and how she wanted the details to be handled – which is the only reason why Arnie (Tim Cummings) reluctantly picksup the phone to answer a call from his half-brother Jerry (Jeff LeBeau). Many years ago, in their hometown of Grangeville, Idaho, when the two were growing up in a trailer park with their mother, the relationship between the brothers was marked with abuse. They had an abusive father/stepfather and their alcoholic mother would bring home strange men. The fights and drama in the family had a huge impact on the boys. When they grew up – they went different ways, with only a few occasional phone calls that would keep them connected. Arnie moved five thousand miles away from their hometown, to Amsterdam, where he lives with his partner Bram, while Jerry, ten years older than Arnie, lives alone after his wife kicked him out – but hopes for reconciliation. There is so much to say about these two actors and their wonderful performing skills, but I’d like you to go and see for yourself.
GRANGEVILLE, the multi-award nominated play by Samuel D. Hunter, is about forgiveness and the experiences that many of us have within our families. Masterfully directed by John Perrin Flynn, the play is emotionally packed with feelings of hope and hopelessness, desire to connect and the need to disconnect in order to survive. It explores anger, guilt, shame, longing, and relief. Flynn says, ‘Sometimes it seems that there is no going forward. Sometimes families self-destruct in such a way that those who remain create prisons of the mind, places where they don’t allow themselves to go. They think the love, which was there and still is, is not enough to break them free.’
The simple, yet complex set design is done by Stephanie Kerley Schwartz, who is also the costume designer. The rest of the creatives include Dan Weingarten (Lighting Design), Keith Stevenson (Sound Design), Jan Bryant & Dan Speaker (Stunt/Fight Coordination), Nicole Millar, Stephanie Kerley Schwartz & Ryan Wilson (Props), Nicole Millar (Production Stage Manager).
John Ruskin (Artistic Director/Producer) founded the professional company in 2001. Michael Myers (Producing Artistic Director) has served as Ruskin’s Managing director since 2002. In that time, he produced close to 100 projects, along with John Ruskin. Fantastic job!
West Coast premiere at the Ruskin Group Theatre, Grangevilleopened on Friday, May 29 and runs at 8pm Fridays, Saturdays; 2pm Sundays through July 12, 2026. No performance on June 5, 12; July 3, 5. Added performances at 8pm Mondays June 8, 15. Ruskin Group Theatre is located at 2800 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405. Tickets are $25 (Mondays) – $45 and can be purchased in advance at www.ruskingrouptheatre.com or for more information: (310) 397-3244. Free parking available on site.