Review: THE BELLLS at Roselle Center For The Arts - Provocative Drama of Conscience

During the great Yukon gold rush of the 1900s, a stranger rides into town and begins asking questions about the mysterious disappearance of a Chinese prospector who had staked a claim. He quickly learns that it's every man for himself in this vast wilderness, where ghost stories are never taken lightly and nothing is quite what it seems. A hauntingly beautiful and compelling play, written and directed by the creator of NBC's hit series Smash and the author of the REP's world premiere productions of O Beautiful and Fever.

Playwright Theresa Rebeck returns to UD Rep as both writer and director. She has had an award-winning career, scripting for TV (e.g. Law and Order, NYPD Blue), 3 novels and several dramatic stage productions. Rebeck donated her papers to the UD Library in 2014.

But we cannot succeed every time out. Her script for CATWOMAN earned 2004 The Golden Raspberry Award for worst screen writing. However, with that Razzie she does join other luminaries such as George Lucas' 2002 2STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES and 2010's THE LAST AIRBENDER by Night. Shyamalan.

Entering the alluring and intimate Thompson Theatre in the Roselle Center for the Arts, one hears the chilling, whistling wind of the Yukon even before curtain. The majestic scenic design is by Tony Award winner Alexander Dodge. I knew I remembered that name! His Tony was for A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER, recently at The Playhouse and one of its many highlights this season. (a fascinating timed sequence of the set construction is available on the Rep web site).

The veteran acting ensemble is as fearsome as ever. Michael Gotch, Elizabeth Heflin, Stephen Pelinski, Kathleen Pirkl Tague, Lee Ernst, Sara Griffin and Mic Matarrese set the bar for depth of character and exquisite nuance. Aisle Say recalls the Rep's THREE PENNY OPERA of a few years ago. The mental note made then of singing is not their strength is revisited in this production.

Many of Rebeck's lines are as beautifully frigid and starkly transcendent as the light design by Philip Rosenberg, also with GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE to his credit. (Rosenberg also did ELEPHANT MAN on Broadway so perhaps he will be returning with Rep's next offering). "...the cold is so deep and wild", "I want to die in my own home where the cold is warm" and the very existential "God's mysteries are known. They are nonsense, but they are known". (Alternate facts?)

THE BELLS is intense. The writing is provocative. Owing to the fact that it is unknown to the audience, it would have been a thought to do a one pager in the program to explain the plot.

Through Feb 5 Rep.Udel.edu 302.831.2204

Next up is THE ELEPHANT MAN. The season closes with TARTUFFE by Moliere with the translation by Richard Wilbur. Wilbur also worked with composer Leonard Bernstein to write the lyrics for 1973's Broadway CANDIDE, perhaps Aisle Say's favorite score. And, speaking of darlings, Moliere's IMAGINARY INVALID opened UD Rep to its adoring public many seasons ago. I was smitten then and continue to stand in thrall with their excellence.

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