Review: A WALK IN THE WOODS Hints Why Arms Negotiations May Never Result in a Treaty Being Signed

Actors Co-op Theatre Company presents the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award nominated drama A WALK IN THE WOODS, written in 1988 by playwright Lee Blessing. The witty two-hander concerns a relationship between two arms negotiators, one Russian and one American, and what happens when they step out of the war room and into the woods above Geneva, Switzerland, during a year of negotiations. Although the two eventually develop a friendly relationship, their personalities certainly differ in that the American is formal and idealistic while the Russian is easily led off topic and very pessimistic that any agreement will ever amount to any changes in the escalating arms race.

Originally written for two men, the play is suggested by a real-life incident which occurred in 1982 when negotiators Paul H. Nitze and Yuli A. Kvitsinsky left the official Geneva sessions for an unofficial "walk in the woods" and achieved a breakthrough, although it was then rejected by their governments. Loaded with hope and futility, A WALK IN THE WOODS, directed by Ken Sawyer, produced by Lauren Thompson for the Actors Co-Op in Hollywood, stars two remarkable actors, Nan McNamara as American Joan Honeyman and Phil Crowley as the Russian Audrey Botvinnik.

First of all, I must give a tip of the hat to dialect coach E.K. Dagenfield for working so diligently with Crowley to perfect his Russian accent. The subtleties of vocal inflections during his many emotional moments reminded me of many of my own family members, especially in the way the Russian works his way into her mind with kindness hiding his true intention of conquering her distrust in his motives. It was like watching a game of battleship as the two captains maneuver their ships, hoping the other will never figure out exactly where, or what, they are hiding.

It makes the play all the more relevant now when negotiations continue in the Middle East with lots of thinking and talking going on with nothing happening to solve the problems as violence increases. Perhaps the world is always destined to experience such frustrating times when differing sides of political issues cannot seem to find a common ground upon which both sides are willing to stand.

McNamara certainly keeps reminding the stubborn Russian that the fate of the world is in their hands and that should negotiations fail, there is a good chance missiles will be launched in a matter of minutes by a computer with no feelings about destroying the world and all its people. As the seasons pass and the two meet at the same bench in the woods, their attitudes from such opposite ends of the spectrum begin to inch towards the middle, resulting in the hope that things will work out between them and for the world. And those of us who were alive during that time will certainly remember the fear of destruction that permeated our lives as disarmament negotiations failed again and again.

Director Ken Sawyer obviously worked hand-in-hand with his technical team of designers to create the woods as a third character in the play, adding in realistic seasonal sounds and colorful lighting on the sparse tree-ringed set designed by Ellen Lenbergs, lit by Nicholas Acciani (whose projections of headlines from the time really brought the fearful mood into focus), and sounds of nature designed by Adam R. Macias which suggest either the warmth of Spring with birds chirping in the breeze or the cold wailing of the wind in the dead of Winter. Costume designer Wendall C. Carmichael completes each seasonal presentation with the appropriate rain wear, heavy winter coats, or summery jacket-free professional wear that fit in perfectly with the ever-changing moods of the seasons and characters.

After a year of negotiating, Botvinnik confesses that he has decided to retire from his job, fearing that his mounting mental distractions may cause him to say the wrong thing at the most inappropriate moment at the negotiation table. And by now, Honeyman has lost much of her idealism, but not the hope of a possible agreement between the two super powers that will last and make a difference. In the woods, the two eventually remove their shoes, roll up their slacks, and step into the stream running under the bridge where much of their conversations have taken place. As they stand in silence appreciating nature in all its glory around them, their friendship comes into focus for both of them as they are finally able to just be silent together and take in the wonderful world around them they are attempting to save from destruction. The lights fade with just the tree tops highlighted as a beacon of hopeful remembrance.

Thanks to the skill of McNamara and Crowley, Blessing's intensely written banter is presented in such an honest and truthful manner that it was easy to forget this was not a word-for-word transcription of the actual dialog between the two real-life negotiators. The two skilled actors know how to listen and pull us into what is going on in their characters hearts and heads as well as the words being spoken, making the play a fascinating character study, acknowledged by Time Magazine as one of the best dramas to hit the stage in 1998.

A WALK IN THE WOODS continues through March 18, 2018, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, with Sunday matinees 2:30 pm. Tickets: $30.00. Seniors: $25.00 Students: $20.00. Group rates available for parties of 6 or more. To buy tickets or make reservations please visit www.ActorsCo-op.org or call (323) 462-8460. Performances takes place at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. LA, 90028 (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood. Free parking in the Carlos Street lot across from the entrance to the theater.

Photo credit: Matthew Gilmore

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