Northwestern presents classic O'Neill play
'Heart-breaking, but so beautiful'
By Joanne Fox, Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, September 05, 2008
Karen Barker and Jeff Barker rehearse a scene from "Long Day's Journey into Night." (Submitted photo)
ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- Northwestern theater professor Bob Hubbard recalled seeing "Long Day's Journey into Night" as a teenager.
"The experience convinced me to major in theater," he said. "I wrote in my journal shortly after seeing the show, 'it's heart-breaking, but so beautiful.' I believe the rantings of that young man hold true today."
Hubbard is a member of the cast who will present the Eugene O'Neill masterpiece this weekend, under the auspices of the Eastcheap Theater Company. The production is being directed by April Hubbard, theater professor at Dordt College, who is also Bob's wife.
The play is set in 1912 and dramatizes 16 hours at the summer home of the Tyrones. The characters -- parents James (Jeff Barker) and Mary (Karen Bohm Barker) and brothers Jamie (Bob Hubbard) and Edmund (Brady Greer Huffman) -- are autobiographical representations of O'Neill's dysfunctional family, including the family's summer maid Cathleen (Lois Estell).
The play might not have the most uplifting themes -- examining drug and alcohol addiction -- but Hubbard felt that "people who like good art generally like to be moved and challenged."
"Long Day's Journey into Night" was published in 1956 -- after O'Neill’s death, as he requested. Its Broadway debut earned a Tony Award for Best Play. The following year it won the Pulitzer Prize for drama.
"O'Neill's play paints perhaps the most accurate, poignant, and relentless depiction of addiction ever written," said Hubbard. "It’s arguably the greatest play by America's first great playwright."
Hubbard acknowledged that because of its challenging topic and length, ("Tell your babysitter to plan for a three-hour show," he quipped), "Long Day's Journey into Night" is rarely performed in a college setting.
"Just to give you an indication of its stature, a recent Broadway production starred Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Dennehy, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Robert Sean Leonard," he said. "The fact that a group of local theater professors are tackling these demanding roles hopefully illustrates our desire to take risks, challenge ourselves, and bring important work to Northwest Iowa."
The Eastcheap Theatre Company was started by Jeff and Karen Barker, Hubbard explained "many years ago as a way to remain active as theater artists" beyond the normal duties of college professors.
"Long Day's Journey into Night" will be presented at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at Northwestern College's Allen Black Box Theatre in the DeWitt Theatre Arts Center, Orange City. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door.
"The experience convinced me to major in theater," he said. "I wrote in my journal shortly after seeing the show, 'it's heart-breaking, but so beautiful.' I believe the rantings of that young man hold true today."
Hubbard is a member of the cast who will present the Eugene O'Neill masterpiece this weekend, under the auspices of the Eastcheap Theater Company. The production is being directed by April Hubbard, theater professor at Dordt College, who is also Bob's wife.
The play is set in 1912 and dramatizes 16 hours at the summer home of the Tyrones. The characters -- parents James (Jeff Barker) and Mary (Karen Bohm Barker) and brothers Jamie (Bob Hubbard) and Edmund (Brady Greer Huffman) -- are autobiographical representations of O'Neill's dysfunctional family, including the family's summer maid Cathleen (Lois Estell).
The play might not have the most uplifting themes -- examining drug and alcohol addiction -- but Hubbard felt that "people who like good art generally like to be moved and challenged."
"Long Day's Journey into Night" was published in 1956 -- after O'Neill’s death, as he requested. Its Broadway debut earned a Tony Award for Best Play. The following year it won the Pulitzer Prize for drama.
"O'Neill's play paints perhaps the most accurate, poignant, and relentless depiction of addiction ever written," said Hubbard. "It’s arguably the greatest play by America's first great playwright."
Hubbard acknowledged that because of its challenging topic and length, ("Tell your babysitter to plan for a three-hour show," he quipped), "Long Day's Journey into Night" is rarely performed in a college setting.
"Just to give you an indication of its stature, a recent Broadway production starred Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Dennehy, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and Robert Sean Leonard," he said. "The fact that a group of local theater professors are tackling these demanding roles hopefully illustrates our desire to take risks, challenge ourselves, and bring important work to Northwest Iowa."
The Eastcheap Theatre Company was started by Jeff and Karen Barker, Hubbard explained "many years ago as a way to remain active as theater artists" beyond the normal duties of college professors.
"Long Day's Journey into Night" will be presented at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at Northwestern College's Allen Black Box Theatre in the DeWitt Theatre Arts Center, Orange City. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door.
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