A Great Canadian Theater Company presentation of a play in two acts by John Murrell. Directed by Stewart Arnott.
Pete - Aaron Forward
Walt Whitman - Geordie Johnson
Jimmy - Matthew MacFadzean
Ralph Waldo Emerson - Jack Wetherall
Dauntingly dense, "Democracy" demands attention but is too wordy and static to be consistently compelling. One of Canada's most prolific and successful playwrights, John Murrell has developed an interesting theme, pitting intellect against physicality and reason against emotion through the personas of 19th-century U.S. poets Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman. But, while the contrasting philosophies make provocative reading, not every promising idea can be molded into effective drama.
Top-heavy with argument and light on action, "Democracy" chronicles a single day beside a pond, focusing on an imagined debate between the two men against the backdrop of the American Civil War.
Neither Emerson's cool cerebral approach nor Whitman's sensuality can make sense of the war or the way it distorts human interaction. And much of the time, the heavy prose of their near-sermons on life and death quash the moments when emotional connections are made or humor breaks through, allowing the Murrell who produced such international successes as "Memoir" or "Waiting for the Parade" to shine through.
The illustrations of the poets' viewpoints, in the form of the wounded soldier and the deserter that Whitman has brought to his special place, perform their intended function, but have very little effect on the play's direction.
Without a first-class production, there would be little point in resurrecting this play, first produced in 1992, despite the relevance of thoughts on war in this era of armed conflict around the world.
Fortunately, sensitive direction by Stewart Arnott, an excellent set by Kim Nielsen, which captures a sense of peace around the pond, and outstanding perfs -- particularly from Jack Wetherall as Emerson -- inject as much life as possible into this intellectual exercise.
But, worthwhile as this production is, "Democracy" is simply not Murrell the dramatist at his best.
Sets and costumes, Kim Nielsen; lighting, Jock Munro. Opened, reviewed Jan. 26, 2006. Running time: 2 HOURS, 20 MIN.
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Date in print: Mon., Feb. 6, 2006