Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 9, 1990 TAG: 9003092147
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By KAREN L. DAVIS SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The club at 324 Salem Ave. can seat about 200 in an intimate theater setting. The only distractions are the sometimes-clanking heating units and an occasional whiff of cigarette smoke.
Miriam Frazier directs the Acting Company's current production at the Iroquois. Titled "Five of Us," the play is a contemporary drama by American playwright Len Jenkin.
The ensemble includes Gerry Gardner, Mary Strelka, Philip Bernard, Joan Long and John Slaski.
Gardner gives the best performance as Herman the simple-minded messenger boy. Herman admits that most people perceive him as an "idiot." But he longs to do normal things, such as travel and eat in nice restaurants. His days are filled with delivering packages. His nights are filled with reading, so he can get more "learning" to fit in the real world, and with acting out his elaborate fantasies.
Herman reads mostly the Bible. But he has a secret penchant for porn novels. And it so happens that those porn novels he relishes so much are written by his next-door neighbor, Mark.
Bernard makes his stage debut as Mark, a barely-scraping-by hack writer who cranks out junk paperbacks while supposedly financing the "great novel."
His live-in lover Lee, played by Strelka, is a university student about to depart for Sri Lanka on a school project. Lee is reluctant to move forward in her life without Mark. And Mark is reluctant to leave with her because he can't pay his own way.
The play, like real life, is filled with idiosyncrasies as Lee and Mark struggle to decide their future together. Mark is held back by guilt feelings generated by letting Lee pay the rent. He also is jealous over her success.
Lee doesn't understand why Mark can't feel happy for her. She is disturbed and confused by the sudden instability in their long-term relationship. Her friend, Crystal (played by Long), and Mark's friend, Eddie (played by Slaski), offer alternative viewpoints to their situation.
Crystal, who claims she has been alone so long she is used to it, represents what Lee might become without Mark. And Eddie, who once resorted to crime in desperation and served time for his indiscretions, represents what Mark might become without Lee.
The drama is offbeat enough to be thought-provoking and refreshing.
"Five of Us" continues at 8 p.m. through Saturday at the Iroquois. A rock band takes the stage after each performance, and playgoers are invited to stay at no additional charge. Liquid Sound performs tonight and The Moon plays Saturday.
Admission to the play is $5, and reservations can be made by calling 344-9575.
by CNB