A bus rolls into a small Kansas town in the wee hours of the morning. A blizzard rages and the roads in and out of town have just been closed. So what’s to become of the bus driver and his four passengers? Thank goodness for Grace’s Diner, their best bet for waiting out the storm.
Grace’s is a friendly enough place where the coffee’s hot and the donuts are only a day old. The establishment’s proprietor and her cheerful 15-year-old waitress are stranded to boot, along with the town sheriff. Eight people, eight stories, just one night to get to know them all.
Imagine a slumber party among strangers…
Bus Stop, the classic drama by playwright William Inge, plunges us headlong into the hopes and dreams of these restless souls. And when it’s all said and done, we can’t believe it only took two hours. Inge is mighty efficient indeed. I like that.
I like something else, too. I like it when every character touches my soul. And in the end there was no one to loathe, only normal human beings to root for.
The startlingly Marilyn Monroe-like Cherie (Kalinda Gray), a mediocre-at-best night club singer, is pursued with clinging intensity by Bo (Scott Finn), an over-confident young cowboy. Frankly, Bo could use some pointers from Codependents Anonymous, and some others from a good gentlemanly role model.
Inge’s story is at its best while sorting out this apparent non-relationship plagued with abuse and confusion. In a nutshell, clueless guy wants girl so bad he thinks nothing of attempting to drag her kicking and screaming onto a bus, then to the altar and finally to his ranch.
Bo’s elder companion Virgil (Robert Craig) and sheriff Will (Jim Rice), both examples of admirable manhood and good character, struggle to get through to the immature Bo. A subtle and believable transformation is a credit to the skill of all four actors. A third-act kiss between Bo and Cherie sizzled.
All the while, smart yet innocent young waitress Elma (Elisa Richter) befriends Dr. Lyman (Tephen Alan Carver), a brilliant and obviously tormented drunk whose flaws Elma somehow sees beyond. Carver’s taut performance is complex yet easy to follow. In the end, does he do what he always does, or does he do the right thing? See the play to find out.
Small-town divorcee Grace (Tracey Wiltse), the only real stereotype of the play, has a fling with bus driver Carl (Daniel Lucero), a tryst that the two half-heartedly try to cover up. Although this relationship lacks the interest of the other story lines, Grace and Carl depict a palpable loneliness. In fact, loneliness seems to be the dominant theme of Bus Stop.
Surprisingly, it is the understated character Virgil’s loneliness that was most inspiring in the end.
Amanda Karr makes all the right calls in her sensitive direction of this wonderful production. Her cast doesn’t seem to miss a single opportunity to inject the play with emotional impact.
By the same token, Designer Greg Fritsche’s gorgeous set doesn’t miss a minute diner detail. There is even a page from an order pad dangling over the pick-up counter. And sound designer Julie Moore’s blizzard tracks were so real I got cold.
Bus Stop continues at the Long Beach Playhouse Studio Theatre through November 22. General admission tickets are $22; $20 for seniors. Student tickets are $12 with valid student ID and are available for Friday and Saturday performances. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees on October 19, November 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. Call (562) 494-1014 for reservations and information. Tickets are also available online at www.lbph.com.
