‘Book of Days’

Somerset Valley Players has Lanford Wilson’s 1998 small-town drama.

By: Stuart Duncan
   Lanford Wilson’s Book of Days, written in 1998, is a compelling account (virtually day by day, as the title suggests) of a small-town "might-be" crime — its causes and its aftermath. It is seen through the eyes and souls of the town’s inhabitants.
   The town is Dublin, Miss. — two malls, a Pizza Hut, four bars, five churches, and even a community theater that at the moment we drop in is staging George Bernard Shaw’s St. Joan. The program defines the time as "recent," but the exact year doesn’t seem to be very important. Like Grovers Corners, N.H., it would seem to be "a nice town — you know what I mean."
   The work is on view at Somerset Valley Playhouse and director Walter Placzek has cast it well. The bulk of the tale falls to Ruth Hoch (played by Linda Konopka), who is married to the manager of the town’s only real business, a cheese factory. Ruth handles the books for the company and it is she who becomes the major protagonist for the story. She also tries out for the theater company, and to her shock is cast in the title role. The director of that show-within-a-show is a Hollywood castaway, possibly with an unsavory background. Nevertheless, the role does wonders for Ruth’s psyche, and flushed with some success, she takes on the conscience of the town.
   This isn’t easy, for the town is firmly in the clutches of the Bates family. Walt, the father, owns the factory; James, his son (played beautifully by Al Contursi), has had a fleeting moment of athletic fame, but shows no stomach for the factory, preferring to be a local politico. When his dad is killed in what is assumed to be a hunting accident, young James seeks to cut corners, and with the help of Earl Hill, a local redneck (Jack Bathke), he finds it easy. The sheriff (Greg Chornomaz) falls into line, as does Walt’s widow (Carla Zackson Heller).
   Ruth’s husband, Len (James Houston, who has an irritating way of mugging through scenes), tries to offer a strong shoulder, and so does Mom (Harriet Trainor in another fine portrayal). But it is Ruth who senses something wrong with the stories: "Walt never drank coffee," "This gun hasn’t been fired," etc. The Rev. Bobby Groves (Tom Wardach) is no help, spouting platitudes instead of the Beatitudes.
   The play is virtually a recitation. The stage empties and fills in short episodes; chairs are moved on and off rapidly. Brief scenes are followed by blackouts, day by day. Director Placzek has kept the pace swift, but since playwright Wilson has neither solved nor resolved the action, you may feel a bit cheated at the end. And you probably will build up a dislike for religion or politics, or both. You will, however, have been entertained.
Book of Days continues at Somerset Valley Playhouse, 689 Amwell Road, Hillsborough, through Nov. 12. Performances: Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m.; Sun. 3 p.m. Tickets cost $16. For information, call (908) 369-7469. On the Web: www.svptheatre.org