Vertigo Theatre Co. production spectacular

By Denise Clark

Journal Staff Writer

Have you ever given any thought to life-altering decisions? It is an interesting thing to do. Are decisions solely ours to make or do other people's influences change our path and outcomes?

What about regret? What about the times in our life when we have not listened to our inner voices and instinct and have handed over decisions in attempts to appease and pacify others while foregoing our own desires?

After watching Vertigo Company's second production in their season, "Fat Pig" by Neil LaBute, I have given these subjects a great deal of thought.

In order for a play to provoke such a response, it must be written with utter believability. The director has to compassionately and sensitively breathe life into the words of the author by adding motion and levels. Finally, the actors have to embrace and fully realize the people they are portraying by digging deep to discover the reason the character was written and then combining emotion with the written word.

On all accounts, this production of the play "Fat Pig" surpassed all my expectations.

Director Jeff Spencer has motivated a talented ensemble that makes every effort to keep it real. There is never a moment in which the dialogue feels forced or stilted. Movement and transitions are character driven and believable. Spencer insists on honesty from his actors, and he guides them perfectly.

This play opens in a typical setting. Tom, a successful business man, is invited to share space at a table with Helen, a librarian, in a crowded lunchroom. This first awkward encounter holds promise for a continuing relationship. But real life, as is portrayed in the script of this play, often confounds new possibilities with what is rather than what could be.

Matt Hudson portrays Carter, an old friend and business colleague of leading character, Tom. Hudson portrays a guy we have all met. Carter is a man who interferes out of self-interest and personal emptiness. I found myself fighting the urge to yell at him to "shut up." I also found myself hating him ( in this case, a huge compliment.)

Jessica "Red" Bays gives a forceful, relentless and downright cold-blooded portrayal of Jeannie, Tom's business colleague and sometimes girlfriend. In Bay's capable hands, we watch a woman who loses less than gracefully, a private competition that has left her questioning her own sense of self. Here is another character that was not written for the audience to like, but to learn from. I did.

As Tom, Mike Rudden continues to grow and challenge himself as an actor and delivers what is perhaps one of the best male performances I have seen in some time. It's hard to find words to describe this rare and heart wrenching performance. I can only say that his performance inspired me to think, respond and wish.

Nevertheless, as brilliantly as all of these actors shined, the brightest light among them belonged to Jacqueline Love as Helen. In this role, Love is brave, witty and utterly captivating. The local theater world has been aware for quite some time that Love can act, but this performance is inspired on all levels and the character exploration absolutely dead on.

I guess by now it is obvious that I am not going to reveal too much about this play. The title "Fat Pig" makes it fairly easy to ascertain the topic of the show. I believe telling the audience anything about how this play unfolds would be a disservice to the overall theater experience.

Vertigo Theatre company has continued its streak of excellence which began with their production of "The Rabbit Hole." While writing that review, I remember encouraging audiences to attend that performance to see a production equal to what they would see in any city by any professional theater company. At the risk of repeating myself, I would again invite anyone interested in quality to attend this performance as well.

"Fat Pig" performances will be at 7:30 p.m. today and at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Black Box Theatre at Northern Michigan University. As the Black Box is an intimate space with limited seating, I would suggest arriving a little early to get a good seat.

Editor's note: Denise Clark has directed and performed in many productions throughout the Marquette County area.