Port City Playhouse in Alexandria is staging "Shining City," a story of troubled human relationships overlaid with a hint of a ghost story. Set in Dublin, the play by Irish playwright Connor McPherson tells how a man comes to a psychiatrist for help after he starts seeing a ghost since his wife's death in a car accident.
Director Becky Patton said the play is about relationships and how we communicate (or don't) with them. "The parallels between the character's experiences in their relationships brings the message home that honest communication in even casual relationships is key, but incredibly hard to achieve and maintain," she said. "We can hear the words when they are said, but it is how we choose to accept or reject them that makes all the difference. I hope people will listen more intentionally."
Producer Jim Howard decided to produce "Shining City" because he liked its intense dialogue and subject matter. "Secondly, I owe the director (Becky Patton) a lot for her help in many projects over the past several years, and I think she is one good director. Her vision is always clear on what she wants out of her production staff, and especially her actors."
Tom Flatt plays John, a recently widowed salesman who is visited by the ghost of his wife, and then seeks therapeutic counseling. He said the most challenging aspect of the play was the language.
"The writer has composed the piece very poetically to simulate the broken rhythms of everyday speech, so my challenge is to turn the fractured prose into a natural and emotionally transparent performance," he said.
Andy De plays Ian, a man who cares deeply for others but often ignores his own needs. He said the challenge was that Ian's emotional growth takes on wild shifts from scene to scene.
"And on top of that he has quite a bit of trouble expressing himself and getting complete thoughts out due to his own insecurity," he said.
Ashley Amidon plays Neasa, Ian’s girlfriend and the mother of his child. She said the role was emotionally challenging for her.
"Neasa has built her life into a partnership with Ian, so when he out of the blue says that their relationship is over, she feels devastated, and like she should have seen this coming," she said. "I've been in that place where you know that this person that you love is leaving no matter what, but you want to walk away having been totally honest. Neasa doesn't want to ever look back on her breakup with Ian and wonder 'what if?'"
Port City presents “Shining City” Friday-Saturday, Feb. 27-28, March 6-7 and 13-14, and Tuesday, March 10, at 8 p.m.; with Saturday matinees March 7 and 14 at 2 p.m. Port City Playhouse is located at 1819 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22302. Tickets are $18 regular and $16 for students/seniors/military. Visit the website at www.portcityplayhouse.org.