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| Martin Andrews (l) and Jim Van Valen |
The Story of Manning Up
Riverside Theatre was first presented with Sean Christopher Lewis’ new play, Manning Up, in the spring of 2012. Artistic Director Jody Hovland read the first act and enthusiastically committed to producing the refreshing script about the challenges of men becoming first time fathers. The National New Play Network (NNPN) picked up the show as part of a national rolling world premiere, giving Riverside Theatre the unique position of first producing the show. It will be directed at Riverside Theatre by Lewis, but future productions will have their own directors and, thus, their own creative interpretations. Riverside Theatre has been a National New Play Network (NNPN) member since 2011, but Lewis has a long history with the organization, which committed to producing much of his early work, quickly growing his now-established career as a contemporary playwright. Manning Up stands out from Lewis’ playwriting repertoire, which has largely focused on in-depth explorations of social challenges. This play, however, uses a comedic angle to study a very personal subject for Lewis: what it means to have children, to be a man, and to be a father while still keeping one’s sense of humor about life.
Lewis drew inspiration from his close friends’ comic moments of new babydom and from his own meditations on family. The actors in the show, Jim VanValen and Martin Andrews, playing Donnie and Raymond respectively, have appeared together on the Riverside Theatre stage in a much more serious piece, “A Steady Rain” by Keith Huff, in the spring of 2012 as policemen with a dark inner life. Now they play joke-cracking, beer-drinking, anxiety-ridden husbands of pregnant wives. Facing impending fatherhood at the same time, Donnie and Raymond bond over all of the issues that many fathers want to know, but are too protective of their egos to actually ask. Fortunately, Donnie and Raymond are comfortable teasing out the real truths from the other; a common theme between best buddies. It is not a coincidence that these two actors were, not so long ago, facing fatherhood within a year of each other.
The play takes place in what the set note refers to as a “man-cave”, an unfinished basement that serves as a rec-room for grown-up boys. The audience only meets Raymond and Donnie, never seeing, but always hearing about, their pregnant wives (also best of friends) Sally and Felicia. The soon-to-be fathers use their man-cave as a recliner therapy room, slapstick playground, and scream-filled meditation safe-space. Lewis directs the play using smart, physical humor inspired by classic silent comedies. Between the bursts of blatantly comedic dialogue, the physical action and raw, emotional outpourings continue to climax, leaving the audience with long moments of laughter and a secret feeling of hope.
The artistic tone of the play is completed by scenic designer Shawn Ketchum Johnson, lighting designer Drew Bielinski, and costume designer Osean Perez. Adeara Jean Maurice stage manages the show.
Playwright and Director: Sean Christopher Lewis
Sean Christopher Lewis is the Artistic Director of Working Group Theatre, based in Iowa City, Iowa. He is a contributor to NPR'S This American Life and his plays have been awarded the National New Play Network Annual Commission, the Kennedy Center's Rosa Parks Award, the National New Play Network Smith Prize, NEA Voices of Community Award, the William Inge Fellowship, a National Performance Network Creation Fun Grant, a Barrymore Award, two Central Ohio Critic Circle Citations and a National New Play Network Emerging Playwright Residency. His plays and solo pieces include KILLADELPHIA (Available Light Theatre, Baltimore CENTERSTAGE, Drilling Company NYC, Gerald W. Lynch Theatre, InterAct Theatre, Hartbeat Ensemble, Touchstone Theatre, Riverside Theatre, Legion Arts, Empty Boat Theatre, Adirondack Theatre Festival and more); JUST KIDS (Pontine Theatre, Sandglass Theatre, Working Group Theatre); I WILL MAKE YOU ORPHANS (Galapagos Art Space, Riverside Theatre, Uno Festival of Solo Performance, Hyde Park Theatre); MILITANT LANGUAGE (Know Theatre; Halcyon Theatre); THE APERTURE (Cleveland Public Theatre) and MAYBERRY (Hancher Auditorium; Bucksbaum Performing Arts Center and Iowa Arts Center).
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