MRT Sends Up Pols in 'The Missionary Position'

The Missionary Position

By Keith Reddin
Directed by Tracy Brigden; Scene Designer, Gianni Downs; Costume Designer, Robert C.T. Steele; Lighting Designer, Andrew David Ostrowski; Sound Designer, Elizabeth Atkinson; Stage Manager, Emily F. McMullen

CAST
Roger, Tony Bingham; Neil, Jeffrey Carpenter; Julie, Tami Dixon; Maria, Barbara, Pamela, Rebecca, Gretchen, Rebecca Harris

Performances through March 2 at Merrimack Repertory Theatre
Box Office 978-654-4MRT or www.merrimackrep.org

Smack dab in the middle of primary season for the 2008 Presidential election, I nominate Charles Towers, Artistic Director of the Merrimack Repertory Theatre, for first prize in the timing category as he presents the regional premiere of Keith Reddin's The Missionary Position. The play offers an up-to-the-minute look behind the scenes of a fictional political campaign as the candidate's message gets honed and the staffers jockey for position and favor.

The story focuses on Roger (Tony Bingham), a consultant from a Christian organization backing the conservative Senator Williams, the man who they believe shares their values: family, sanctity of life, school prayer, and fiscal responsibility, for starters. Roger's mission is to go forth and spread the word that his candidate is a good Christian and the "only real candidate of change, of hope" (sound familiar?) who will rid the country of religious intolerance. He is challenged by Neil (Jeffrey Carpenter), the campaign's Finance Director as he operates from the shadier side of the street and will do whatever it takes to get the Senator the nomination. Each man is single-minded in his quest, but they are not of one mind.

Into the midst of their conflict comes the wealthy and tacky matron of the political arts Julie (Tami Dixon), a Regional Director with Congressional aspirations of her own. Roger deems her to be a person of faith and labors to recruit her as his confederate against Neil. While professing to believe in the power of prayer, Julie does so with one eye open and discloses personal information about Roger to his foe. She then advises Roger to hire a private investigator to dig up dirt about Neil, not so much to get even, but to "win" him over. Needless to say, this escalation of their disagreement doesn't do anybody any good, including Williams.

The only other characters in the play are a series of housekeepers who Roger meets as he finds himself in a new hotel each week on the campaign trail. Maria, Barbara, Pamela, and Gretchen (all played with appropriate shading by Rebecca Harris) each bring out a different side of Roger's nature as he tries to engage them in conversation. On the surface, he never ceases to be the missionary conveying the righteousness of his beliefs, but doubt and insecurity lurk beneath his zeal and Bingham's interpretation makes him sympathetic. In liberal, blue state Massachusetts, that's quite an accomplishment! The play really rides on his shoulders and he is up to the task. He portrays Roger as a man of conviction to whom personal integrity is paramount. While he judges others harshly, he is equally demanding of himself. Reddin has written some flaws into the character and Bingham shows the internal struggle with his expressive face and increasingly frantic tone of voice. (Note: The actor sounded hoarse at this matinee, but it did not detract from his performance.)

Carpenter's Neil is a worthy foil as he exudes the self-confidence of a man who knows his mission and his abilities. With his shaved head and Mephistophelean goatee, he looks right for the part of the guy with questionable ethics. Dixon is over the top as the self-centered Julie, but exercises enough control to stop just short of caricature. She is the source of a big percentage of the laughs in the play, my favorite being the scene in which she and Roger pray for guidance as the roof is figuratively caving in on them. Director Tracy Brigden reunites with this ensemble from the world premiere and their chemistry is apparent.

Gianni Downs has designed a set that is quintessential generic hotel room with the required bed, wall sconces, desk, mini-bar, and wall-mounted television. The one thing that changes in each scene to indicate that Roger is in a different city is the painting over the bed. Another clever device is the appearance of a stagehand dressed as a maid who comes out between scenes to rearrange props as if she is making up the room. Sound and light cues are well timed and effective. Costume Designer Robert C.T. Steele provides nicely tailored suits for Neil and Roger, while apparently having some fun dressing Tami in a lot of pink with matching accessories.

According to Executive Director Tom Parrish, MRT tries "to produce plays that reflect or create dialogue about our current condition." The Missionary Position explores religious tolerance and the role of religion in government and politics, subjects that have certainly been prominent in this election cycle. From the concerns about Mitt Romney's Mormon faith, to Mike Huckabee's background as a Southern Baptist Minister, to rumors that Barack Obama is a Muslim, the American people have been bombarded with facts and innuendos that have nothing to do with policy and positions and everything to do with creating fear and trying to discredit the other guy. Missionary is a very amusing play with a serious component that tackles some of the darker issues. It makes us laugh, but it's a little scary because we know these people are really out there influencing the political process. With everything else that the play accomplishes, it also takes the time to make us think and that has to bode well for November.

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