Publisher: Elizabeth Hurd

Excellence in “The Whipping Man” at Carpenter Square

Justice Wickstrom, Thonie Lee and Michael Page

Carpenter Square Theatre is presenting “The Whipping Man” by Matthew Lopez.  Directed by Linda McDonald, “The Whipping Man” is an interesting drama set at the end of the Civil War.  Jews comprise only a small part of the population in the American South and before the Civil War the number of Jews who ran plantations and were slave owners was an extremely small number, less than 2% of the entire Southern Jewish population.  But they were there and they suffered alongside their neighbors.  Their slaves were no different than slaves in other plantation settings; they often practiced the religion of their masters.  At the end of the Civil War, the south is in ruins and that spring was quite horrible for the southerners who faced a grim realization that life was forever changed.

It is also the beginning of Passover, a time when Jews celebrate their release from bondage as the Jews in Egypt were freed and began their Exodus.  A young Jewish Confederate Lieutenant (Caleb) returns to his shell of a home to find his family away.  His parents are alive but his mother has found safety with relatives and his father has also made a trip but is expected back.  The only person he finds at home to tend his wounds is Simon, an older man who has been a highly regarded household slave for many years. Simon is one Caleb respects as a good man, even though he knows that Simon is, after all, a slave.  Simon is a devout Jew, and although he celebrates his freedom in his heart, it is clear that he plans to remain loyal to the family and likely remain as an employee.  Former slave, John, shows up as well, he is a young man, growing up a slave in a household where his best friend was also his owner, John and Caleb share an intriguing past.  John has no plans to hang around, but he is willing to help his childhood friend suffering from the bullet he took just before the surrender.

Caleb (Justice Wickstrom)
Simon (Michael Page)
John (Thonie Lee)
Seder Celebration

The three men huddle in the burned out hulk of the room as John shares what he has scavenged and stolen in his recent wanderings.  He is not daunted by the idea of improving his own lot with the things left behind when owners depart in haste or in death.  Food is scarce, but Caleb managed to keep his horse alive long enough to get him home, but now that horse can only provide meat.  They nurse Caleb in his illness as he sits in the remains of a once-elegant chair in the parlor of a formal and formerly beautiful plantation.  Simon prepares the Seder, John and Caleb share some whiskey and many secrets are revealed.

The role of Caleb is very difficult as he certainly comes from a state of mind with two very conflicting moral precepts that cannot be resolved.  Justice Wickstrom gets this difficult conundrum in his teeth in a very interesting way and gives a convincing and solid performance.  The role of Simon is also hard to envision, a man who respects and is loyal to the master who has kept him enslaved until the war ends, yet has taught him to celebrate the Seder releasing the Jews of Egypt from bondage.  Michael Page is a wonderful choice and he radiates comfort and security, strength and nobility alongside an acceptance of his lot with perfect dedication to his craft.  The role of John is certainly not easier, but may be a little more fun, as John is somewhat of a scamp.  He was often in trouble as a child, and he is now ready to find his way in the world any way that he can.  Thonie Lee does a wonderful job of allowing the little boy scamp to still live inside a man who has struggled all his life and expects freedom to bring him a life of ease and satisfaction with no one but himself to please.

Rhonda Clark, Artistic Director of Carpenter Square for many years puts a lot of thought into the plays she offers to the selection committee on the board of Carpenter Square.  “The Whipping Man” was an inspired choice as the talented author; Matthew Lopez wrote a beautiful and haunting script earning the 2011 John Gassner New Play Award from the NY Outer Critics Circle. The choice of Linda McDonald as Director is inspired.  McDonald is not only an excellent actress and director; she is a talented author with several books and plays to her credit.  Her debut novel Crimes of Redemption earned the 2013 award for Oklahoma’s Best Book in Fiction.  Her understanding of this script, her grasp of history as well as her skill in character development allowed the three actors to forge a bond with men who may have lived in a time long past but their lives have an immediacy that is present.  The production is brilliant, and the beginning is auspicious, upon arrival the set itself conveys the perfect ambiance. At first glance one immediately knows Ben Hall has been here.  He did his homework and built a beautiful environment once again.

With a great crew, the show is technically perfect as well as perfectly performed, and while it is a tear-jerking drama, it leaves the audience with a sense of hope and understanding for the future.  Carpenter Square is located at 800 West Main in downtown Oklahoma City, just a block south and west of the Civic Center.  Nevertheless, parking is a breeze, and a joy to find a spot that is just a short walk to the entrance.  Patrons have time to visit the bar for a relaxing drink before the show or linger in the lobby to enjoy the art displays Carpenter Square provides for each show.  For “The Whipping Man” many artists are shown and they are very good.  Sarah Carnes, Membership Chair of the Oklahoma Art Education Association leads the effort to showcase art work by Oklahoma high school student artists for the production of “The Whipping Man” with excellent art to display.  Visit www.carpentersquare.com for tickets and information or call the box office 405-232-6500.  “The Whipping Man” will be presented through April 22, 2017 and tickets are still available.  There is a lot of excellent theatre happening in this town all the time and it is sometimes hard to see everything.  But it’s not too hard to see “The Whipping Man” and it is one show that should not be missed.  You may cry but you won’t be depressed, you may even laugh a little but it won’t be awkward, you will be entertained without realizing you are being educated and you will want to know more.