Middletown

Photo Credit: Michael Brosilow (a pretty generic photo, but I think this is from the opening monologue and it was just so great)
by Will Eno
Steppenwolf Theater Company

I took way too long to write this down, so all the pertinent points in my mind are gone. So, I'll write what I remember.

This closed Steppenwolf's season on the theme of public vs. private. I had wanted to badly see Eno's Thom Pain years ago after the rave reviews, but I could never let myself spend the $60 or whatever it was. It seemed like a lot at the time. I'm still sad.

So, I thought - this is at least a way to see a Will Eno play and see what all the hubbub is about.

I remember the opening monologue was fantastic and gripping. I just tried looking it up now so I could copy and paste it in (yes, it's that good), but I'm sure it's completely copyrighted and definitely not on the internet.

The program notes had an interview with Eno where he talked about the relationship of Middletown to Our Town and, more obscurely, to The Day Room. He said most people would compare it to Our Town, but it's closer relative was DeLilo's play. Well, happy for me, I'd read both and I'd have to agree. The point of Our Town is that every moment is precious and we have to love every stage and live it well, that it won't come around again. The major theme of The Day Room is about connectivity and how we connect, the different ways we connect, the role of language in that and the question of what do we have if we don't have language - do we even have a society? Middletown borrows the themes of the second, not the first. Even though the setting is more reminiscent of the Wilder.

So, Eno has these moments in this play where people are struggling with being alone and they are struggling to be together. The librarian, that keeper of words, is the most connected to the townspeople. The others are trying, reaching for connection and missing and then occasionally hitting the mark. He asked a few more questions about appropriate connections, perception of others and rank in life.

I'm afraid I can remember bits of the play, but in terms of overall scope - it's difficult to articulate more at this late date. I wouldn't try to see it again, but it's a play that is rich enough to revisit. It is rich and might be timeless - only time will tell. It was very good and I'd encourage anyone who has the chance to see it as it pops up in different places. And, you might just take an afternoon and check out the book, The Day Room, from your local library and brush up before you go. As will I, well - actually it's on the shelf behind me, should I happen to see it again.