Photo Courtesy of Eric Gordon
Maquella Chacon
Staff Writer
Katherine Ware and Clay Nield captivated the audience during the play, “Last Train to Nibroc,” by female playwright Arlene Hutton. With a very simple set consisting of a small park bench placed on a platform, designed to resemble another bench, acting was the driving force that pulled the show along.
Heading into the theater, I was skeptical of how entertaining this play could be with only two characters and one set that was no complex creative feat.
The storyline follows a man and a woman who meet on a train headed to their hometowns in Kentucky in the early 1940s, who despite their differences of personality, fall in love in an unconventional way. The actors match drama with humor to create a well-balanced performance.
With a running time of only 80 minutes, just when you think you can pay attention no more and need to stretch the show concludes. Three acts kept the audience satisfied. I didn’t leave the theater distraught from needing to know what happened to characters May and Raleigh, but I also didn’t leave the theater feeling like I wasted my time.
Aside from the marvelous acting, background noise tracks and lighting took away from the show. The backtrack was hard to listen to and inconsistent in volume and presence, making it a distraction. Lighting changed throughout the show and that was good to keep things moving and diversify, but it was distracting and irrelevant to the scenes.
Charming southern accents made the humor and snarky remarks between characters more laughable, the show was overall lighthearted and not too heavy on the emotion. The chemistry between Ware and Nield was undeniable, a show of its own.
Raleigh, the discharged army veteran played by Nield, gets diagnosed with epilepsy or “fits” as it is referred to in the show. Nield steals the show during the second act as he collapses on stage amidst a performed seizure. Nield’s performance was so lifelike and had an intense shock factor that tugged on the heartstrings.
Raleigh shows the unspoken shame that medically discharged troops or men who cannot serve due to medical problems feel. His inner battle develops, and his emotions are laid out on the floor for the audience to see. Nield didn’t seem to just play Raleigh, it was as if he was Raleigh and it was as if I was watching it in real time.
May, a small-town school teacher played by Ware, had the audience entranced by saying in a politely sarcastic way whatever came to her mind in response to her situation. May has many lines that myself and many others have dreamed about saying out loud.
In addition to her wit and charm, Ware guides the audience with her face and how she acts without saying a word. Her facial cues and emotional responses cue the audience into the mood and vibe of the scene.
Her annoyance at Raleigh’s comments, her panic as she watches Nield collapse, and the love seen for him is all so apparent on her face. Her performance was so complete, and I would love to see her bring that talent to other plays to add heart and believability.
Overall the simplicity of the set design, costumes, and backdrop gave Ware and Nield space to really let their skills shine through. I would love to see this play again and all Ware and Nield’s future projects.
