“Tommy Lee Jones Goes to Opera Alone” is the newest original creation of the exceedingly clever Buntport Theatre Company – and it’s really a winner. Who would think that a Tommy Lee Jones sighting (in the ticket line, alone) at the Santa Fe Opera last summer would lead to a theater piece?
Admittedly, it’s a stretch to imagine the movie characters Jones has played as opera buffs. But this accomplished actor has many facets.
We meet him this time, sitting in a cafe, eating a piece of pie.
A life-size puppet replica of TLJ waxes poetic about cowboy boots, life as a movie star and love of opera as he sits with three Buntporters, while a fourth one (Erik Edborg) voices the actor in a relaxed Texas style.
The puppet was created by Kagen Schafer, who made a head that really resembles TLJ and jointed hands that work amazingly well to pick up things, reach in a pocket and more.
Hands were mechanized by Corey Miller, according to the program and the eyes and eyebrows move on the head, although the mouth does not.
The cast list reads: Hannah Duggan – Jane, the waitress; Erik Edborg – voice; Brian Colonna – head; Evan Weissman – right hand; Erin Rollman – left hand. The latter three have now or previously had experience in puppeteering.
The jointed fingers pick up items and the eyes and brows are expressive. Fine wire from the fingers fits into the gloves of Weissman and Rollman for operation, while Colonna has some levers on the back of Jones’ head to manipulate.
Watching them walk him to the phone in the next room or simply cross his knees is an event.
Duggan, a skilled comic actress, is dressed as a frazzled waitress. She has a fair number of opinions and is acquainted with Jones.
The other four wear black suits that cover body and head – most of the time, so they fade into the background as a good puppeteer should.
Then there’s Jones’ gold watch that starts operatic arias when opened, spurring the actor to talk about his favorite, “Turandot,” and “La Boheme”– and Elvis’ potential and more. “I go to opera a lot. Usually alone,” he tells them, as he asks June the waitress for more coffee. And there’s a reminder from his wife to get a piece of pie to go. …
“Artists take molehills and make them into mountains,” he says about the creative process, speculating about Puccini and the end of the “Turandot” story.
The conversation draws to an end and two of the puppeteers come to blows – also cleverly staged. After 75 minutes with no intermission, the audience departs chuckling. Don’t miss this one.
-Sonya Ellingboe, March 26, 2012, ourCastleRocknews.com