Buried Child: American Gothic – The Exploration of Family and Identity at Albany Civic Theater

Buried Child: American Gothic – The Exploration of Family and Identity at Albany Civic Theater

by Joanna Peterson Palladino-Resnick

It’s thrilling that Albany Civic Theater has chosen to perform Buried Child, Sam Shepard’s 1978 Pulitzer Prize winning play that explores the breakdown of the 20^th century American nuclear family.  In a 1996 American Theater interview with Sam Shepard, Shepard discusses the main themes of Buried Child and reveals that, “The problem of identity has always interested me.  Who in fact are we?”  These existential questions and the connection to ancestors and the past have influenced much of Shepard’s writing.  In the archived interview with American Theater, Shephard states, “I’m the direct product of something that’s wild and wooly.”   Buried Child at Albany Civic Theater takes you on a wild and wooly ride that explores the chains to the past, family connectedness and alienation, and ultimately tragedy.

The play explores an American Midwestern family and centers around the matriarch (Halie) and patriarch (Dodge) of the family enduring the economic recession of the 1970’s.  Also introduced to the audience is the couple’s two living sons Tilden and Bradley.  A visit from Vince, Tilden’s son, and his girlfriend Shelly, brings up memories of the past, and as the play unfolds the audience realizes the severe dysfunction of the family and the family’s buried secret becomes revealed.  What starts out seemingly familiar, turns into something dark and strange.

Director Evan Jones’ cast and crew help to deliver a strong production of the play with the right mix of comedy, intrigue, and danger.  Gary Maggio delivers one of his best performances on stage as Dodge and is surrounded by a compelling cast: Amy Hausknecht as Halie, Nate Beynon as Tilden, Mitch Manning as Bradley, Conrad Browne-Lörcher as Vince, Amber Acosta as Shelly, and Michael Schaefer as Father Dewis.  The play was well supported by set design and decoration by Michael McDermott and Kat Fronheiser as well as lighting design by Nicky Lightz.  The rest of the crew should also be mentioned – costume designer Kassidi Jarvis and Kat Fronheisesr, light board operator Kathryn Capalbo, stage managers Jess Hoffman and Beth Swallow, and Assistant Director Samantha Miorin.

Worthy of its own mention is the sound design by Brian Starnes and the selected music that supports the play.  Patti Smith said she first met Sam Shepard in 1970 at the Village Gate where he was playing drums for the Holy Modal Rounders – “this psychedelic hillbilly band” to quote Patti.  It is a great nod to the late playwright to include a well curated musical soundtrack to support the play.  The playlist includes God’s Going to Cut You Down – Johnny Cash, Why Me- Kris Kristofferson, Find the Cost of Freedom- Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Sunday Morning Coming Down – Kris Kristofferson, Branded – Merle Haggard, Hello Stranger – Barbara Lewis, Time of the Preacher – Willie Nelson, Ain’t No Grave – Johnny Cash, and Back in Baby’s Arms- Patsy Cline.

You still have a chance to see some edgy local theater with an exquisite soundtrack.  Albany Civic Theater’s Buried Child by Sam Shepard has three more shows  – September 22,23, and 24.  For ticket information, visit www.albanycivictheater.org

Images/Photo credit:  Adam Wilson-Hwang