'Life' Mostly Beautiful

Though hard to recollect is the sentiment of a country thrown into a just and strongly supported war, such a time did once exist in America.  And as the current situation is so starkly opposite, a look back at such a time period seems all more affecting today when watching The Cover of Life, currently playing at the NoHo Arts Center.

Sentimental moments run through the core of this World War II drama set in a corn-fed blip on the map in Louisiana, following the lives of three young ladies as they grapple with their husbands (all brothers) serving in the military overseas.  When a Life magazine reporter (Kate Miller) gets whiff of this picture-perfect feature story opportunity, each of the wives fights the harsh realities of their situation under the journalistic scrutiny.

Representing nearly all things small-town - honest, demure, and most importantly a dreamer - Tood (Megan Densmore) emerges as the leader of the three wives pack, both as the youngest of the bunch as well as the most sincere in her dealing with everything at hand.  Densmore is spot on as she runs the gamut of emotions Tood faces throughout The Cover of Life, touching in her moments of grief and frustration after realizing her husband, Tommy (Kyle Tyler Buckland), might not be as equal a dreamer as she first thought him to be.  Their relationship is put to the test as Tommy is unwilling to let his wife reach for a brighter future, choosing instead to squander her hard-earned money, which she earns while he is away, on a nonsensical business venture.

As a reporter and photographer, Kate (Tara Lynn Orr) begins to see that there is more to life than a cover has to offer.  After spending time with Tood, Weetsie, Sybil and their mother-in-law Aunt Ola, she discovers that not every backwoods local milks a cow and cans peaches all their lives.  Orr delivers a straightforward and enjoyable portrayal of a New York hardball that ultimately finds more in common with youngest Tood than she could ever have imagined.

Kelli Tager, as the vixen sister Sybil, gives a sexually charged performance that goes out with a bang while Billie Puyear's Weetsie is piously perfect as the middle and envious wife.  A funny delight comes in the form of elderly Cherry Davis as local reporter Addie Mae, who reminds of a Mayberry-like maven.

Judging this play by R.T. Robinson on its cover is the best bet, as the underlying theme of women's rights, both in Kate's struggle to hold her own in the man's world of reporting and in Tood's journey to wear the pants in her young marriage, does not fully develop in The Cover of Life.  Robinson has crafted a well-intentioned play that is scattered with pleasing moments, but ultimately spreads itself thin in an attempt to tackle one too many issues.

Director Sara Botsford knows The Cover of Life well, as she happen to play the role of Kate in the New York premiere of the show at the American Place Theatre, and her love and understanding of the work is immediately clear, as she captures big emotions in a small-town story.  Botsford also provides the slightly abstract sets and 1940's costumes.  Lighting design is by Luke Moyer with sound from Jonathan Zenze.

Rounding out a trifecta of politically charged productions at the NoHo Arts Center, as Feed and Bush is Bad are also currently on stage, The Cover of Life is poignant and heartfelt in mostly all the right places.  Performances run through May 13 on the Second Stage at the NoHo Arts Center, located at 11136 Magnolia Boulevard.  The production is produced in association with Open At The Top Productions.  Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling 818-508-7101 or online at www.thenohoartscenter.com.

Photos by Tim Sassoon.  (Top) Megan Densmore and Kyle Tyler Buckland; (Bottom) Billie Puyear, Julie Sanford, Megan S. Densmore and Kelli Tager.

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