The Apple Falls: Another Don’t Miss Drama

By C.S Gilbert

2016 may go down as a stellar season in Key West theater history. To limit comment only to original plays by local residents: first there was Michael Marrero’s Locaro, now there is Key West Fringe’s production of artistic director Monnie King’s heart-squeezing drama, The Apple Falls, running thnrough April 9 at St. Paul’s parish house.

Don’t miss it. Everyone with a heart needs to see this play.

The Fringe, dedicated to immersion theater and with the motto, “Expect the unexpected!” has just gotten better and better since their birth, five years ago, phoenix-like out of the ashes of the People’s Theater of Key West. That this apple is unexpected is probably understatement.

Here we see the endgame of the final descent of a brilliant, talented woman (a world-touring concert organist) into the cesspool of schizophrenia and homelessness, sending her family into turmoil. Tammy Shanley gives a bravura performance as the afflicted Pauline, her vocal and physical tics pitch perfect and terrifying. The rest of the large cast—extra bravos to Richard Grusin as Pauline’s father and to a  fine newcomer, L. John VanNorden as Carl, a police officer and sister Emma’s once n’er do well high school sweetheart—are credible to very, very good. This is VanNorden’s acting debut and he is an absolute natural. Melody Moore as the sane but second-best sister Emma; she continues to raise anguish to an art form of its own.

If there are flaws in this powerful production, they are due to casting and direction by much-acclaimed Fringe resident director Dennis Zacek. One example: Key West High School student Amber Hernandez acted nicely in her professional debut but has a cheerful face and a mouth that in repose turns up, a bit jarring in scenes of emotional distress.

But cheers for the sound design, which was creepy and perfect; the designer isn’t named, although  although Don Lynch is tech director. Neither is Deb Rode Kik credited for her fine three-part set (the alley is amazing). And Cynthia Kemeny did her usual superb job as stage manager.

A number of heart-rending family histories (and a single uplifting one) were shared during the panel of mental health professionals the followed the show. I will confess that I thought I knew a lot about mental illness. No. Wrong. Busted.

This is a powerful and at times overwhelming show. But it is so very important. Its message, that the stigma of mental illness must be erased, is one that should be a no brainer but, as was clear from the panel, is not.  There is probably no cure, although effective behavioral and pharmacological treatments may be available. An astonishing one in ten families is affected by mental illness; many are reluctant to speak of it—just as, decades ago,  peaple were loath to speak of cancer.

We must come out of the closet on mental illness. The Apple Falls can only help to achieve that goal. The March 31 performance will again be followed by the panel discussion. Both are highly recommended.

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