Theatrical psychodrama

We forget that as recently as the mid-1960s,  peoplewere routinely admitted to county and state mental hospital wardslabeled as insane, without merit, guilty of non-conformity in an age ofconformity.

Lansing Community College brings it all back with JosephKramm’s “The Shrike,” the title deriving from a predatory songbird thatimpales its prey on barbed wire, thorns and the sharp edges of brokenbranches. 

Set designer Fred Englegau has created a great, seeminglysoothing yet sinister mental hospital ward that is as seriouslyanal-retentive and super-organized as a Martha Stewart Thanksgivingdinner table, while director Paige Dunckel has found and selected themost intriguing collection of 1950s standards, torch songs that are onepart syrupy seduction, one part mindless elevator music.  

The effect is scarily mind-numbing before an actor even appears on the stage.  

There are 24 characters in this play and 18 actors, manyof which defy the hackneyed logic of “there are no small roles, thereare only small actors.” Not in this play. Samantha Seybert does notenter the play until well into the second act, yet she commands thestage in a minor role as Ms. Wingate, the seemingly harsh nurse with aheart of gold. Seybert uses brisk, no-nonsense movement with an oddballaccent to create a very real character. Not to be outdone, Kris Vitolsplays two characters: a patient who stares catatonically throughout ActOne and, in Act Three, the very convincing brother of the play’santagonist, Ann Downs (Beth Martin), the estranged sneaky shrike-wife,who keeps her husband in the mental hospital out of spite. 

Michael Banghart plays Jim Downs, who has beenhospitalized following a failed suicide attempt. Banghart and Martinare at the core of the play, performing a dance of desperation togetheras Jim tries to “suck it up” with Ann to get out of the hospital. Thedepth of Ann’s predatory depravity is revealed slowly, while Jim’sresponse evolves through anger and frustration to convincing sobbingresignation by play’s end. It takes a while to see the shrike-bird inAnn, and how a conformist society supports and reinforces herdetermination to get her husband back following an affair. 

Ken Beachler is very believable as the psychiatrist Dr.Schlesinger, and the other psychiatrists in the play, Drs. Barrow,Bellman and Kraamer, played respectively by Katie Bristol, AndySchumaker, and CJ Bernhart, each add an unconsciously sinister tone totheir characters.

It’s an effective ensemble, especially Dean Dodge, whoappears only in Act Three as Jim Downs’ brother. It’s noted in theprogram that he has been a Lansing resident for 45 years and it issuggested this is his first play.  Bravo, Mr. Dodge, we hope to see more of you. 

“The Shrike” is a reminder of a time not too long ago when individual liberties were best kept to yourself.

’The Shrike’

Lansing Community College

Dart Auditorium

8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, and Saturday, Nov. 12

$10 general admission; $5 for LCC faculty, staff, alumni and all students

(517) 372-0945