"Kodachrome" - by Adam Szymkowicz - Burlington Players (Burlington, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Katie Gluck as “Suzanne, The Photographer” in a scene from the Burlington Players' production of "KODACHROME" by Adam Szymkowicz now playing in Burlington, MA. through November 23, 2024. Photo credit: Robert Mattson.)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMag Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
"I just help people look at things. Sometimes. If they're open to it."
- ("Suzanne/The Photographer") / Adam Szymkowicz
Burlington Players
Presents Adam Szymkowicz's
"KODACHROME"
Written by Adam Szymkowicz
Directed by Kristin Hughes
Producer Nicole Sparks
Stage Manager Allie Brown
Cast Includes: Katie Gluck as “Photographer,” Ronny Pompeo as “Gravedigger/Young Man,” David Fisher as “Hardware Store Owner/Policeman,” Kimberly Blaise as “Librarian/Waitress/Friend,” Jon Nuquist as “History Professor/Perfume Maker/EMT 1,” Karen Dervin as “Mystery Novelist/Florist/EMT 2,” Kacee Staiti Rime as “Marjory/Young Woman.”
Additional Creative Team:
Set Design - Kristin Hughes;Lighting - Vyren Gray;Board Operator – Ashe Lamourine;Technical Director – Jason Toppan;Sound Design – Nicole Sparks;Costume Design – Tracy Sullivan;Props Coordinator - Katie Pompeo;Live Floral Acquisition - Kara Schmitt;Scenic Painting - Maureen Bailey, Kristin Hughes;Intimacy Coordinator - Anna Silva;Publicity - Michelle Fisher;House Manager - Leslie Wagner;Photography - Robert Mattson;Set Construction & Painting Crew: Maureen Bailey, Kimberly Blaise, Allie Brown, Karen Dervin, David Dooks, David Fisher, Katie Gluck, Edmund Golaski, Jon Nuquist, Ronny Pompeo, Nicole Sparks, Hugh Thompson, Jason Toppan.
Performances:
November 8, 2024 through November 23, 2024
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
The Park Playhouse, One Edgemere Avenue, Burlington, MA. 01803
The Park Playhouse is conveniently located just off Rte 95 and Winn Street in Burlington, MA. There’s plenty of parking. To reach the Park Playhouse, take Route 95/128 to Exit 34, Winn Street. Turn toward Woburn and take the third right onto Harriet Avenue (a steep hill). Follow to the end and make a left onto Edgemere Avenue. You'll see the entrance to Overlook Park about 50 feet away. Drive into the park and bear left. The Park Playhouse is the last building on the right.
TICKETS:
Phone # 781-229-2649
webmaster@BurlingtonPlayers.com
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Burlington Players beings a hefty helping of home in the zip code of Colchester, Connecticut with the deeply moving "KODACHROME" now playing.
Written by Adam Szymkowicz, "KODACHROME" premiered in 2018 at Portland Center Stage in Portland, Oregon.
For the Burlington Players' production, the set is divided into three sections and the setting is kept minimal.
There are several suspended window frames adorning one section.
There is little furniture.
There are three projection screens displaying various people, places and things of the New England community of Colchester, founded in 1698.
“Why pick Colchester?” one may wonder.
Beyond the fact that it is Szymkowicz’s home town, the town might well have been named “Anytown, USA” for all that it matters, because we already get a strong sense of familiarity from many of the characters we are about to meet in "KODACHROME."
Unknown as to how official it is, one of the images displayed has the town motto “Kindness Matters in Colchester” and it is a motto that permeates much of "KODACHROME" as many of its subplots unfold.
There is definitely a strong sense of kindness witnessed among most of the characters in the play.
In a new American political landscape where “Kindness Matters” appears to have just been voted down, it is pleasing to see a play so filled with distinctively kind and pleasant Americans.
There are no “villains” in this piece - no real antagonists to speak of - only people who are products of their respective circumstances and environment.
The biggest obstacles each Colchester resident faces appears to be directly situated within themselves.
"KODACHROME" also has a quirkiness reminiscent of another hometown play about relationships that has become a staged favorite over the past 10 years - “Almost, Maine” by John Cariani.
However, unlike “Maine” which focuses primarily on the varied eccentricities of its residents and some preposterous premises, "KODACHROME" is rooted (somewhat) more in reality and on the unrequited, undeclared or unresolved relationships, and how important it is not to leave things incomplete – especially before our time is through on this mortal coil.
(Photo: Jon Nuquist as "Martin, a Perfume Maker" with Katie Gluck as “Suzanne, The Photographer” in a scene from the Burlington Players' production of "KODACHROME" by Adam Szymkowicz now playing in Burlington, MA. through November 23, 2024. Photo credit: Robert Mattson.)
Some of the Colchester residents we meet include:
Our guide through most of "KODACHROME" is a local photographer named Suzanne (Katie Gluck).
Gluck is outstanding, superbly maintaining the singular identity of the Photographer throughout the story while the rest of the cast equally effectively portrays multiple characters.
There is an embedded diversity among the characters (in the approach taken by writer Szymkowicz) which allows the cast, under the perceptive guidance of director Kristin Hughes, to easily differentiate between most of the characters portrayed by every one of the members of this strong ensemble cast.
Suzanne has a secret that is revealed early on in the story, but she also has a connection to most of the other characters which proves most important, especially to a "sensitive" Gravedigger named Earl (Ronny Pompeo) and Charlie, a Hardware Store Owner (David Fisher).
(Photo: Kimberly Blaise as "Renee, a Librarian" in a scene from the Burlington Players' production of "KODACHROME" by Adam Szymkowicz now playing in Burlington, MA. through November 23, 2024. Photo credit: Robert Mattson.)
The Photographer also introduces us to Harold, a History Professor (Jon Nuquist) and Georgette, a Mystery Novelist– (Karen Dervin) – a long-married couple and “empty nesters” on the verge of splitting up.
There is also Robert, a Young Man (Ronny Pompeo) and Florence, a Young Woman (Kacee Staiti Rimer) who do confess their mutual desire to marry but haven’t the foggiest idea what marriage entails.
Renee, a Librarian (Kimberly Blaise), has her sights set on a man of great importance to Suzanne but is afraid to brooch the subject.
Similarly, Martin, a Perfume Maker (Jon Nuquist) has an “obsession” (no pun intended…well, maybe a little) of a Waitress named Jen (Kimberly Blaise) who does not even seem to know he exists as she has herself staked out on Colchester Policeman, Pete (David Fisher).
Similarly, Martin is oblivious to the affections offered by the optimistic Heather, a local Florist (Karen Dervin).
(Photo: Katie Gluck as “Suzanne, The Photographer” in a scene from the Burlington Players' production of "KODACHROME" by Adam Szymkowicz now playing in Burlington, MA. through November 23, 2024. Photo credit: Robert Mattson.)
Szymkowicz seems to have used the professions of the characters not to symbolize directly but at least to be indicative of their respective stories:
The Photographer "displays" through her "lens" various images of people, places and things.
The Perfume Maker is completely driven by scents and potions.
The normally eloquent, studious Librarian finds herself at a loss for words, attracted to a man known for fixing things but who also has been forced into the realization that some things cannot be fixed.
Even the Young Man and Young Woman are locked into a pattern driven by their innocence and respective/collective naivete.
There is some absolutely beautiful writing here – simple yet layered, common yet distinctive.
Most of all, "KODACHROME" is full of characters we come to care a great deal about in just around 100 minutes time.
The collection of subplots is what makes the overall play "KODACHROME" a joy to watch.
You are engaged from the moment each story begins and cannot wait to see to how each one concludes – either in a heartwarming way or, perhaps, in a heartbreaking way.
In any event, it is an emotionally charged play that will inspire you to revisit this particular "KODACHROME" moment again and again.
"KODACHROME" continues in Burlington, MA. until November 23rd, 2024.
Coming up next for the Burlington Players will be Kate Danley's "WORKING FOR CRUMBS" beginning February 21, 2025.
For tickets and more information, contact Burlington Players at # 781-229-2649 or via email at webmaster@BurlingtonPlayers.com.
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Approximately 100 minutes with no intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
Small town life - where everybody knows each other and a slower pace allows the pursuit of love to take up as much space as it needs.
Our tour guide is Suzanne, the town photographer, who lets us peek into her neighbors’ lives and helps us see glimpses of romance in all its stages of development.
A play about love, nostalgia, the seasons, and how we learn to say goodbye.
ABOUT BURLINGTON PLAYERS
THE BURLINGTON PLAYERS (BP) is an all volunteer, adult theater group open to those ages 18 and over, and there’s room for you too! Experience in performing or technical theater is certainly welcome, but not necessary. We’ll happily mentor anyone who wants to learn any aspect of theater. THE BURLINGTON PLAYERS usually produces a four show season each year. There's fun and entertainment for everyone!
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box # 433
Burlington, MA. 01803
