Distant Voices: Bringing them Closer

I left Distant Voices Touring Theatre’s afternoon salon with a lot to think about. Like most people, I had learned about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II in school. Yet the group’s vivid portrayal of Hiroaki Nishimura’s experience as an internee communicated this despicable chapter in our country’s history in a very personal, poignant way.

Founded in 1999 by Julie Nishimura and Danny Peak, the theater group produces and tours original plays based on American social justice events and issues. Actors Michelle Jacob Stradley, David Stradley and Danny Peak create the scene of Hiroaki Nishimura’s stark existence as a prisoner. Julie Nishimura plays a touching and powerful accompaniment on the piano. The music is by composers such as Copland, Debussy and Gershwin. Nishimura also plays compositions commissioned from Robert Hogenson, which are based on Japanese children’s music and folk songs.

Hiroaki Nishimura was interned in 1942 along with about 110,000 other Japanese Americans and Japanese. Though he becomes just “number 14786” to the US Government, he still takes pride in his country, celebrating the 4^th of July along with fellow internees. It is not until 1960 that he is repatriated as an American citizen. The play, based on writings from his diary, details his dehumanizing experience.

The story of Hiroaki Nishimura, Julie Nishimura’s father and Danny Peak’s father-in-law, is an also an excellent teaching resource. The group has toured extensively in colleges and schools in this country and to the Artslink Festival in England. They have been recognized by Pacem in Terris with the Peacemakers Among Us award.

The group also performed portion of September Echoes, commission by Saints Andrew and Matthew church in Wilmington. The play deals with the repercussions of 9/11, while exploring themes of racism and human rights. Michelle Jacob Stradley plays Nadin Hamoui, a young Syrian-American who is jailed along with her mother, who eventually dies. The parallels between the internments of the Japanese Americans and the treatment of Arabs and Arab Americans are unmistakable.

With their thought provoking and moving pieces, perhaps Distant Voices Touring Theatre might help keep history from repeating itself.

The group will perform Distant Voices in its entirety at the Newark Public Library on April 29 at 2:00.

For more information about Distant Voices Touring Theatre: http://dvtt.net/home.htm

CAPE benefits Newark

Living in Newark has considerable perks. One day I can listen to collaborative pianist Roger Vignoles on CDs owned by the Newark Free Library and the next day I can hear him live at Gore Recital Hall thanks to the sponsorship of the University Faculty Senate Committee on Cultural and Public Events (CAPE).

Roger Vignoles is one of the greatest living collaborative pianists of our time and he certainly proved it in his accompaniment of UD faculty member Robert Brandt in the Winterreise by Franz Schubert.

This rather underadvertised concert had a small audience -- the most vocal of whom seemed to be baritone Dr. Robert Brandt’s students. But those who missed this evening missed hearing a perfectionist. Mr. Vignoles’ technical skills are so solid that he is able to concentrate on the finer points of absolute dynamic control – final chords which he dared to make so soft that the notes risked not speaking – yet they did. His remarkable concentration made incredible changes of mood and tone within the rich variations of the music Schubert used for the twenty-four cloyingly romantic poems by Wilhelm Müller.

Dr. Brandt is also quite fluent in German which makes for a convincing portrayal of ideas expressed in colloquial fluency. His voice is quite rich and strong and he still seemed fresh and energetic even after singing for over an hour with no break.

When stars like Mr. Vignoles are lured to a tiny town like Newark, it means the music department at the University of Delaware has reached a level of sophistication which can only be attributed to their excellent staff and to the economic power of the University Faculty Senate Committee on Cultural and Public Events.

Go CAPE!

Pop-rock Musical, Next to Normal, Soars at The Everett Theatre!

Next to Normal is one of the bravest musicals I have ever seen. The compelling show tackles mental illness, a subject that's not usually explored in musical theater.

The musical, with music by Tom Kitt and book & lyrics by Brian Yorkey, focuses on a suburban family in crisis and coping with the matriarch's battle with mental illness. Like most mothers and wives, Diana is trying her best to love and raise her children, while being a dutiful wife; unlike some mothers and wives, she's also living with bipolar disorder.

With the help of her husband (Dan) and her doctors (Dr. Fine and Dr. Madden), Diana is trying to manage her high and low periods and manic situations. However, the stress of her illness is affecting her relationships, especially with her teenage daughter (Natalie), a genius and musician. Natalie, who recently started dating her first boyfriend (Henry), is at an age when she needs her parents' guidance. Unfortunately, Diana and Dan are consumed with Diana's situation and are not able to give their daughter the attention she needs. Diana and Dan's son (Gabe) on the other hand, is elusive and "not exactly always around." The family contends with the many therapy options for Diana's illness and the stress of living with someone who is not always able to control her actions and moods.

Next to Normal is written from the point of view of Diana's, as well as the rest of the family, allowing the audience to gain a better understanding of what a person with mental illness and his/her family members experience. Director, Jeffrey Santoro handles the show with great sensitivity, but he doesn't hold back. He takes on the stressful situations in the show with great vigor and his actors follow his lead. Karen Murdock electrifies as Diana. She's stunning in a role that calls for her to delve deep inside to find the many emotions and feelings that her character experiences, regardless as to how dark they may be at times. Patrick O'Hara as Dan, Alyssa Lewis as Natalie, and Tyler DeFriece give powerful and heartbreaking performances as Diana's family. They walk a tightrope of trying to maintain stable lives while trying to care for Diana. Dale Martin, Jr. as both Dr. Fine and Dr. Madden and Alexander Vanderlek as Henry also give solid performances.

Next to Normal is a show that shouldn't be missed. Hopefully, people will not only be entertained by the musical, but also gain a better understanding of mental illness and the impact it has on the family unit.

The final performances for Next to Normal at The Everett Theatre (47 West Main Street, Middletown, DE) are March 16^th and 17^th, at 8:00 PM and March 18^th, at 3:00 PM. A talkback with the cast and NAMI Delaware staff members will follow the March 18^th performance. Visit www.EverettTheatre.com or call 302.378.7038 for tickets.