And the Oscar goes to...

Ok, lets be honest for a moment. Who among us hasn’t practiced an Oscar speech in the bathroom mirror? (For the purposes of this review, you can use the words Oscar, Tony, Grammy, and Emmy interchangeably.) I know I have, and my speech is way too long, as the music plays to usher me off stage I’m still thanking my agent and my lawyer and even my high school drama teacher. Now, what if you were actually up for a real Oscar? What if it was your lifelong dream, and you’d worked on the stage then on film, doing movies and everything you could until you finally got that call at 6 AM – You are up for an Oscar. Then, the night before the Oscars – your first Oscars – you die.  Could you find out if you won? Is there a way to go back, just for one night to see? Or is the Oscar really that important when dealing with the afterlife?

Mitch Albom, the well known author of Tuesdays with Morrie, attempts to address these questions in his play And the Winner is, now playing at Vintage Theatre. Directed by Craig A. Bond, it is the story of Tyler Johnes (Kurt Brighton), an ego-maniacal movie star that dies the night before the Oscars. He is detained in a sort of purgatory and not allowed to pass through to heaven because he didn't say the childhood prayer "Now I lay me down to sleep." He is determined to find out if he won the Oscar though, so he convinces his guide Shamus (Andy Anderson) to let him go back for just one night. He is then joined by his agent (Luke Terry), his girlfriend (Hannah Marie Hines), and his rival co-star and co-nominee (David Harms), who all ate the same bad food and have all died the night before the Oscars. Together, along with Shamus, they all go back for the Oscars to see who won. The story is interspersed with flashbacks that tell the story of Tyler’s rise to stardom and his failed marriage to Sheri (Missy Moore.)

If you have read any of Albom’s books, then you are familiar with his style. He takes a good story, fills it with soft humor and meaningful insight, and then places it in an unusual location or with an unusual twist. This play is most definitely “Albom-style.” Hidden within the humor and absurdist location is a story about finding out what is really important to you, perhaps too late, and realizing that we are all judged by our own performances - both on stage and off. It is well written and the message comes across clearly.

The flashbacks are done with simple lighting changes, yet the audience is never lost or struggling to figure out what is going on, as the direction is clear and makes certain the audience is along for the ride. There were also a few really standout performances that I found to be quite touching. Kurt Brighton’s take on Tyler Johnes is believable and heartfelt, as you can clearly see his struggle and the arc of the character. Andy Anderson as Shamus was funny, warm, and completely lovable as Tyler’s guide. Missy Moore was also very strong as Tyler’s estranged wife. The set design (Jen Orf) for this show was particularly well done. The simplistic set lends itself well to the surrealism of the story. The second act, the set was transformed to the lobby of the Oscars. Complete with 3 giant Oscar statues that were easily 7 feet tall (which, by the way, would look great in my living room.)
 

And the Winner Is is mostly very enjoyable, though a few moments dragged a bit and the pacing did feel a little slow in spots. Overall, the message that Albom is getting across is a very positive one and something that just about anyone can relate to, however I question the meaning behind "now I lay me down to sleep" as the quick answer. I don't want to give anything away, as there are some twists at the end, but I wonder what Albom is trying to say when he states that by saying that one prayer at bed time, anyone will go to heaven. It seems a bit like a get out of jail free card that didn't really fit in with the rest of the story.

There is a lot of competition for your theatre dollar right now, and Vintage Theatre maintains its reputation of strong performances and quality theatre. And the Winner Is should be on your list of shows to see.

Examiner Extra!
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