Dreamcatcher’s ‘Shooting Star’ is not to be missedBy Ruth Ross for the News-Record | January 19, 2012 By nature, shooting stars are ephemeral, evanescent occurrences. This would be an apt description of the chance reunion at the heart of Stephen Dietz’s drama, Shooting Star, now making its New Jersey premiere at Dreamcatcher Rep in an achingly bittersweet production that will bring you near to tears.
As they reminisce about a relationship that ended 26 years ago, emotions, hurts, disappointments and, yes, secrets bubble to the surface. Will their reunion lead the way to a second chance at romance, or has too much water run under the bridge? Dietz has great fun with references to the culture of the 1970s; those of us who lived through the period will feel familiar with the material. Harry Patrick Christian is phenomenal as businessman Reed, on his way to Austin, Texas, to close a deal he knows will be unsuccessful. Christian may look the role of an MBA, but the T-shirt and corduroy-wearing grad student who lived with Elena for almost two years at the University of Wisconsin lurks beneath the surface. Reed ably communicates his concern for his 12-year-old daughter and their rocky relationship, and there is a wistfulness when he talks with Elena about their relationship. In contrast, Laura Ekstrand’s Elena seems to be stuck in a time warp, still the stoner hippie who dreams of making soup for a crowd. Ekstrand inhabits her character like a second skin, endearing and maddening at the same time. Unmarried and working at a phone bank gathering consumer data, she sadly, yet wisely, pronounces, “Our youth was a lie.” Though she is attractive, arriving at her 40s hasn’t been kind to this character. Ekstrand really lights up the stage—indeed, the whole black box theater.
The set, designed by Wesley Krantz, is a simple but familiar one with a large window through which “snowflakes the size of doilies” can be seen. Jorge Arroyo’s lighting adds to the sense of claustrophobia, and Michael Magnifico has selected music that will transport you back to the late 1970s instantly; talk about setting a mood. Ekstrand’s costumes fit the characters very well. Elena’s bohemian attire—long skirt, gypsy blouse, poncho, scarf and boots—are both unstylish and evocative of the hippie lifestyle, while Reed’s pinstripe suit, subtle tie and white shirt scream “conservative.” Shooting Star is the first play by Steven Dietz that I have seen; I certainly hope to see more of his work on the stages of our local professional theaters. His droll, clever dialogue complements the twists and turns of a bittersweet plot that is matched by impressive performances by two of the area’s most accomplished actors. This is a production you should not miss.Read the review online at NJ Arts Maven
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SHOOTING STAR
