'Some Things Are Private' at Trinity Rep

Created by Deborah Salem Smith and Laura Kepley, written by Smith and directed by Kepley, Some Things Are Private is ostensibly about contemporary photographer Sally Mann and the photographs she took.  Ms. Mann raised a furor in some communities, beginning in the late 1980s with her collection of photographs, "Immediate Family"

The photographs show intimate moments in her family's life, including nude photographs of her children; some candid, some re-created.  As with all art, some people liked it and some people hated it.  What made this art different though, is that some people thought that the art was pornography and/or child abuse.

To tell the story of the art and the furor, Kepley and Smith delved into public records, interviews, letters to the editor and molded them into a narrative, held together with some fiction for cohesion.

In Trinity's production, Anne Scurria plays a complex Sally Mann, who, with her husband of 40 years, lives on a vast 400 acre farm in rural Virginia, which is the setting of many of her photos.  Mann is not unaware that her photos may elicit a strong reaction, but denies any responsibility for it.  Scurria plays Mann as a caring mom and brilliant artist, while evoking a touch of arrogance and feigned ignorance.

Stephen Thorne plays the protagonist, Thomas Kramer, a young widower in New York City, who is left to raise his young daughter alone.  In the year before her tragic death, Kramer's wife spent a great deal of money for a landscape photograph by Mann  In order to connect with his wife's spirit, Kramer goes to a local museum to see more of Mann's work.  He is horrified to learn that many of Mann's most celebrated photographs are not landscapes, but photographs of her naked, vulnerable-looking children.

Kepley and Smith have created a conversation between Kramer and Mann during which he questions her ethics, morals, and of course, her art.  Mann is given the opportunity to explain her motivation to take photographs, her relationship with her family, and how her world view is presented through her art.

As narrators, Richard Donnelly, Janice Duclos and Rachel Warren are able to move the narrative, literally and figuratively as the larger issues of censorship, nudity and sensuality are discussed.  Each playing multiple small roles, the actors keep the story, a story, and not a debate or a speech.

Along the journey we meet the Associated Press photo editor who pushed to publish the, now famous, Vietnam-era photo of a naked nine-year-old girl, running through the street, just after she was burned with napalm.  We also meet a Fashion Icon (pointedly unnamed, but one assumes Calvin Klein), who constantly pushes the boundaries of adolescent sensuality, in pop culture.  His most notorious ad featured a 15 year-old Brooke Shields and her jeans.

Beyond exploring the question of "What is art?" Somethings Are Private explores privacy, family, and  "family values".  Each of us need to explore those concepts for ourself.  The play provides a context for the beginning of that exploration.

Some Things Are Private  is well-structured and moves fluidly across time and place. It is engaging, with fine performances from each of the actors.  The technical aspects of the production are seamless. Simple but effective stage, lighting and costume design let the story move without interruption or break in rhythm.   Kepley builds tension and curiosity by keeping  the controversial photographs out of sight until the very end of the production.  The reveal also provides a release for the audience.  

Some Things Are Private runs in the Dowling Theater at Trinity Rep through March 23, 2008.  Tickets range from $20 - $60 and are on sale at the Box Office, 201 Washington St., Providence, RI; by phone at (401) 351-4242 and online at www.trinityrep.com.

Photo: Anne Scurria as Sally Mann, Richard Donnelly as her husband Larry, and Janice Duclos as Narrator

Photos Courtesy of Trinity Repertory Company

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