Heartwarming ‘Sarah, Plain and Tall’ at Playhouse

Tom Titus

Not many women would trade a comfortable life in New England for the

uncertainty of the Kansas prairie today, much less back in 1910, the

year in which Patricia MacLachlan set her novel “Sarah, Plain and

Tall.”

Sarah Wheaton, however was not an ordinary woman. In MacLachlan’s

story, adapted for the stage by Joseph Robinette, she ventures west

as a prospective bride for a no-nonsense farmer and a potential

mother for his two young children. It’s a month-long test, with all

four people involved holding veto power over the arrangement.

The Laguna Playhouse’s Youth Theater has mounted a beautifully

touching and ultimately heartwarming production of this popular

story, a splendid valediction for its retiring director Joe

Lauderdale. “Sarah” is a warm, winning account of rural life in the

early 1900s, presented by a highly capable company.

The story is spun by the elder of the two kids, a now-grown up and

somewhat wiser Justine Kay, whose alter ego, Shea Gomez, enacts her

juvenile self when she once presented the major obstacle to familial

bliss. Their story is a delicate subplot involving the girl’s dealing

with her mother’s death before she can accept anyone who might take

her place, and both young actresses deliver impressively.

The focus, however, falls on the play’s title character, played

with self-effacing charm and wisdom by Carrie Pohlhammer. Her Sarah

is a substantial figure, “plain and tall” as she describes herself in

her introductory letter, yet also quite fun-loving and more spirited

than a Kansas farmer might expect a helpmate and possible soul mate

to be.

Jonathan M. Motil enacts the father, Jacob, with a strong sense of

rustic pride, seemingly afraid to commit his heart lest his house

guest terminate her lease at month’s end. His attraction to Sarah,

and hers to him, is a gradual, thoughtful transition guaranteed to

win playgoers’ favor.

The contrast between Kansans and New Englanders is illustrated by

the characters’ strong accents -- and Daniel Jensen and Stephanie

Schulz have drawn some difficult assignments, since they must portray

both Jacob’s neighbors and Sarah’s Down East relatives, a task they

accomplish splendidly.

Nicholas Leighton as Jacob’s younger child is a natural in the

role, as are the two neighbor children, Jodi Naglie and Marissa Jude

Lowry. Tate Casey completes the cast in no fewer than seven different

characterizations.

Dwight Richard Odle’s panoramic setting, complete with a large,

functioning windmill, establishes the stark Kansas atmosphere

splendidly, aided greatly by Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz’s lighting and

Julie Keen’s period costumes. Dave Edwards’ rural sound effects --

including unseen cats, dogs and horses -- are ideal for this show.

Many young people are quite familiar with “Sarah, Plain and Tall”

either through reading the story or viewing the television movie. The

Laguna Playhouse Youth Theater production brings this warm and

wonderful story up close and personal.

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LAST CALL -- At long last, “Late Nite Catechism” has posted its

closing notice. The Monday night comedy presentation -- which has

entertained Laguna Playhouse audiences for nearly two years --

finally will wrap things up June 20.

The one-nun laugh-fest opened at the playhouse July 21, 2003, and

prompted one extension after another. By the time the show rings down

its final curtain, with its 76th performance, it will have been seen

by over 24,000 theatergoers.

Future stagings will be May 30 and June 6, 13 and 20. If you

haven’t seen it yet (or even if you have), call (949) 497-2787 to

secure tickets.

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BACKSTAGE -- Costume and prop designers are being sought for the

upcoming production of “Lagunatics,” which runs the last weekend of

July. Anyone interested should contact director Bree Burgess Rosen at

www.nosquare.org.