Theater: “Flint” at Shadowland
MY 2 CENTS
By Jacquie Wolf
arttimesjournal October 4, 2019
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Another charming visit to Shadowland Stages in Ellenville whose 35 th consecutive year of live performances included "FLINT ", written by Jeff Daniels and directed by James Glossman. This play has certainly garnered some extra attention due to its celebrity author, but it has been taken on the road and it does have "legs".
The setting is Flint Michigan, post the tragic withdrawal of the GM production plant around which Flint's economy centered. Many locals are out of work and are barely scrapping by. Drug dealing is now a common income stream. The financially bereft government's decision to change its water source has resulted in polluted water and the crisis is just beginning.
We are at the home of Olivia and Mitchell, a struggling but surviving couple with a baby asleep and another one on the way. Their situation is not ideal, Mitchell who had once earned an excellent wage at GM is now aspiring to become a floor manager at Walmart. Olivia works at her church as a secretary. They are barely scraping by, but Mitchell has made peace with his role as the provider for his family and he will do what is necessary to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Their religion is a comfort to them both and there are many Bible quotes sprinkled into their daily lives to get them through. The theme of the play requires that I mention that Olivia and Mitchell are Black.
It seems to be a weekend and their neighbor and friend Eddie shows up to drown his present circumstances in some beer and reminiscences of the good old days. Eddie had been Mitchell's boss at the GM Plant and they both find solace in recalling the times when money, good fortune and respect were free flowing. Eddie is too proud to work at Walmart or at any position that does not recognize his management experience and (in his mind) proficiency.
Eddie's wife Karen then joins the gathering and the tension between them is clear from the beginning. Karen and Eddie are not really getting by on his scattered days of construction work and charity from Karen's brother. They have 2 girls at home that know better than to leave the house in this desperate climate. Still, Eddie does not mind insulting Mitchell's choice to work at a job that is beneath him. We soon discover that Karen and Eddie's home is being foreclosed upon by the bank for non-payment. The theme of the play requires that I mention that Karen and Eddie are White.
The dialogue is simple, smart, quick and poignant. Jammie Patton (Olivia), Brandon Rubin (Mitchell), Brenden Burke (Eddie) and LeeAnne Hutchison (Karen) all embody their roles with passion and as much depth as the writing allows. The backdrop of FLINT is the impetus for the perfect storm which reveals our characters true natures. During an argument with Karen, Eddie offhandedly refers to "them" (gesturing towards Olivia) as being the cause of their problems. Here we find ourselves at the point of the play. The earlier spoken Biblical quote "Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard it's spots?"
The relationship between Eddie and his longtime friend, colleague and commiserator Mitchell, has devolved to the basest element of their existence, their race. Apparently when things were good the White guy was all "live and let live" but now that his own belligerence and ignorance have damaged his pride, he blames the Black guy. Eddie, on the other hand, steadies himself in the face of this betrayal and proves himself to be the good man, the better man.
Jeff Daniels has created a play which brings to the forefront our attitudes toward each other, toward race and ultimately our ability to choose our actions though we may not be able to choose our spots. It's brief run at Shadowland has ended but I expect the opportunity to see this play will come around again.
For my 2 cents this play is a thoughtfully composed push toward awareness of our hidden natures and how easily we can be led. Do see it, do try it on and see if it fits.