Stage Review
'The Dead' is tender and bittersweet

By Joseph T. Rozmiarek
Advertiser Theater Critic

Eden-Lee Murray and Alan Sutterfield give masterful performances. Hawaii Pacific University James Joyce's 'The Dead' Hawaii Pacific University Theatre 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 4 p.m. Sunday through Dec 9; no show on Thanksgiving Tickets: $14, $10, $5 Information: 375-1282

It's the dramatization of a short story, "The Dead," from Joyce's collection, "The Dubliners." The script by Richard Nelson captures the essence of the original, while not following it exactly, and original music by Shaun Davey adds wonderful extra dimension to the work in performance.

Equally wonderful work also comes from an intimate cast under Maltby's careful direction. The result is an evening where not very much happens to the characters, but one that vibrates as an exquisite slice of time enlivened by deeply shaded insights into the people of the play.

The setting is Dublin at the turn of the century, where family and friends gather at the annual Christmas party hosted by the aging Morkan aunts and their young niece. The women are all music teachers and provide a small student orchestra. The guests are expected to sing and dance.

Aunt Julia Morkan (Mary Frances Kabel-Gwin) is in failing health and not expected to outlast the holidays. Her sister Kate (Sharon Adair) is nervously solicitous, but young Mary Jane (Katie Leiva) is managing all facets of the party with quiet good grace.

The central figures, however, are nephew Gabriel (Alan Sutterfield) and his wife Gretta (Eden-Lee Murray). Gabriel serves as the story's narrator and the traditional toastmaster for his aunts.

But on this night, Gretta impulsively sings a song he has not heard before. It is a goodbye melody, filled with sweet and tender feeling for things past and gone. As she sings, Gabriel sees her as a young girl and is filled with rediscovered love. He also realizes that her longing is real, and that it is not for him.

Those troubling emotions underscore the rest of the evening and reach their full expression early

the next morning as Gabriel and Gretta are unable to rest in their rented hotel room. Murray and Sutterfield masterfully sustain this troubling note, reaching deep into character suffering to shape a vibrating final scene.

Kabel-Gwin and Adair are charming as the old aunties, and supporting roles offer sweet vignettes for Dave Donnelly, Luke Anderson and Jo Pruden.

Musical direction by Phil Hidalgo and Mary Chestnut provides accompaniment and underscores much of the dialogue, becoming the unconscious lifeblood beneath the characters. Company dancing gets so vigorous, it literally loosens the floorboards.

The crowning, magic touch comes from set designer Paul Guncheon, who works remarkable optical illusions with the small and awkward playing area.

"The Dead" plays like a treasured antique music box — tender and bittersweet.