By KEN KLINGENMEIER
A Seat on the Aisle
Actors Theatre of Indiana (ATI) continues its 2022-23 season with Violet, the compelling story of a young mountain woman’s quest to repair her life – physically, personally, and emotionally.
A childhood accident with an axe has damaged her face, and her spirit, so she travels by bus from North Carolina to Tulsa, Okla., in hopes of being healed by a television minister there. Violet is enlightened by events and people she meets along the way. The show, directed by Richard J Roberts, is full of enlightened performances.
Sydney Howard stars as Violet in a perfect issuance of the damaged woman. Conveying her character’s vulnerabilities and strengths with a highly detailed performance and blessed with a stunning voice, Ms. Howard is difficult to take your eyes off of. She is joined in the production by Maurice-Aimé Green and Luke Weber as soldiers Flick and Monty. Both young men are accomplished vocalists, and their well-played and impactful roles turn the storyline in surprising directions.
The supporting cast has plenty of punch as well – Eric Olson plays the lively and dismissive Preacher with great energies, Matt Branic appears as Violet’s memory of her loving and supportive father, Tiffanie Bridges’ Lula raises the roof with her gospel rendition of “Raise Me Up ” Tiffany Gilliam is a multi-talented Music Hall Singer with “Lonely Stranger,” Judy Fitzgerald skillfully creates both a helpful Old Woman and a comely Hotel Hooker, while Richard Campea and Cody Stiglich are very solid as a wide variety of characters. Fourth grader Quincy Carmen wows as Young Vi in a very fine performance – both vocally and acting-wise.
Much can be said for the interesting tale we are shown. Themes of self-value, optimism, racism, expectation, and crushing disappointment all find their way into the story arc. Director Roberts has crafted a staging that allows for our imaginations to be included in the process aided by P. Bernard Killian’s flowing scenic design and wonderfully expressive lighting designed by Dustin Druckman. Costumes by Brittany Kugler and wigs by Andrew Elliot and sound design by Barry G. Funderburg effectively complete the imagery.
The onstage band led by music director Nathan Perry provides just the right-level performance of an interesting score by Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawly. Most of the songs are more narrative than lyrical. I would call it nearly operatic, not in any classical sense, nor is it of a rock opera style. It seems a uniquely fashioned style of storytelling derived from those genres where spoken lines are more often sung than spoken.
Bottom line: Mrs. K and I arrived at the performance with small knowledge of this impressively poignant story. Though not a show many have been exposed to and with unfamiliar songs, Violet is surprisingly effective and enjoyable as a musical journey. Highly recommended!
Violet continues at ATI’s Studio Theatre in the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel through Sunday, Nov. 13. You can get information about the schedule and tickets by calling (317) 843-3800 or by logging on at atistage.org.
Footnote: Just as a preview – ATI’s next offering “The Mountaintop” (opening Feb. 3) is again a lesser-known play which illuminates a man and his impressive contributions to our American life. These matters are explored in a unique and original way. Martin Luther King’s life ended at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis and in the play by Katori Hall, we learn about the man and the anguishes and difficulties that go along with leadership while in the final hours of his life.
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