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| Danielle Sultini, Kiel Stango and David Victor |
Good
writing, good acting and good direction -- not much more you can ask for in an
evening of theater, and that’s what Square One Theatre Company delivers in its
production of Suzanne Bradbeer’s “The God Game” under the direction of Tom
Holehan. This is the season for openings at theaters here in Connecticut – I’ve
been to several and have three more scheduled for this week -- but, so far,
this two-act play has been the most engaging. It’s an intelligent look at the
world of politics and, even more important, a look into the hearts and souls of
three people who struggle to maintain their beliefs and their integrity.
The
play is set in the suburban Virginia home of Tom and Lisa. Tom (a tremendously
convincing David Victor), is the junior senator for the state and Lisa (an
engaging Danielle Sultini) is his wife. It’s their wedding anniversary, and Tom
has, almost, agreed to go to church with Lisa. Their plans are disrupted by the
arrival of Matt (an intense Kiel Stango), who is one of the political operatives
working to get the Republican candidate for the presidency elected. He is also
the former lover of Tom’s brother, who died a year ago in a car crash. Yes, it
sounds like the stuff of a soap opera, but it isn’t, because Bradbeer deals
with ideas and emotions that run deeper than that.
Matt
has shown up to see if he can get Tom to agree to be the vice-presidential
candidate, to balance the ticket. Of course, Tom will have to be vetted to see
if there are any skeletons in the closet. Tom is essentially a straight-arrow –
the only problem might be his religious convictions, for although Lisa is a
devoted Christian Tom is an agnostic.
What
follows is an intriguing exercise in the discussion of values and, in the
current political climate, the challenge to say what you believe rather than
what is politically expedient (or simply not true). This may all sound a bit
pretentious, but it isn’t, because Victor, Sultini and Stango deftly create
flesh-and-blood characters who, as we all do, wiggle on the hooks of moral
choices, prejudice and the quandary of achieving personal gain (and power)
versus maintaining a sense of dignity and, well, being true to yourself.
As the
senator, Victor gives us a man who is tempted to make a devil’s bargain, and the
actor does so with a great deal of style and grace, and with body language and
intonation conveys the internal dilemma Tom faces. As Tom’s wife, Sultini is
not a simple, born-again Christian – she believes in God but also believes in
her husband and fights to have him be the man she knows him to be. Stango,
playing the political activist, a dedicated ‘spin doctor,’ the front man for
the presidential candidate, must, over the course of the play, face certain
decisions he has made, especially with regards to his homosexuality and his
relationship with Tom’s brother.
“The
God Game” is essentially about the games those in politics must play, but it’s
also about the games they must play – or choose not to – with their own
beliefs. In essence, the play is about integrity, or the lack thereof, and goes
well beyond red-state-blue-state antagonisms. The simple set designed by Robert
Mastroni is dominated by a portrait of the Founding Fathers signing the
Declaration of Independence. It’s an iconic reminder of our country’s basic values
and the decisions – most of them wise – that they arrived at after contentious
discussions and bitter debates.
“The
God Game” is presented on a single set in a relatively small theater (which
limits, to a certain extent, the actors’ movements), but the size of the
theater and the lack of bells and whistles doesn’t matter, because Victor,
Sultini and Stango ably create characters that you care about – you care about
their trials and tribulations, the decisions they must make, and the personal
relationships that affect those decisions. Thus, the senator’s final moments,
with his wife by his side at a press conference, tell us all we need to know
about his character and the values he has opted to uphold. Quite simply, this
is good theater and well worth the trip to Stratford to be given the
opportunity to think about what we are not willing to sacrifice – no matter the
possible gain.
“The God Game” runs through November 18. For tickets or more information call the box
office at 203.375.8778 or go to squareonetheatre.com
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