In September, 2019, an upscale Texas resort held a conference of a group of voters widely representing Americans of every stripe, particularly political, racial, and social. They would consider many important national issues and opine on them from their diverse experience and points of view. A final compendium of their discussions would go to Representatives in D.C. and the press. Learning about and contemplating all this inspired Jason Odell Williams’s America in One Room, now at Florida Studio Theater.
FST showcases the dramatic conduct and results of the conference through the meeting of nine representative citizens. They contribute to a central discussion and interact in various degrees of agreement (or not) to subjects introduced by a neutral moderator. In the process and between sessions, they reveal more than their answers to decisive questions.
Kate Alexander, always an actor’s director as well as drama interpreter, assures that none of the play’s characters becomes a stick figure. Even in the role of the moderator, Sarah Stockton is more than an efficient M.C., who doesn’t take sides when arguments take place. She’s all business and neutral when her job is business but shows her own human interests during private instances. She even handles well the FST audience when she asks for sum-up views related to the play’s.
Before a largely older adult FST audience, Marina Rey manages not to be irritating as Pearl, a former New Yorker. Now a Florida retiree, she’s interested in shopping and living a good life she thinks herself entitled to, without guilt about anyone being less fortunate. A good receptor for her opinions should probably be rural Wisconsin hunter, fisher, and family man who likes only legal immigrants “but not just anyone.” But with whom will he (noteworthy Sheffield Chastain) end up talking privately?
Linden Tailor — with an assumed nonchalant air — hides the uneasiness of Kevin, whose family came from the Philippines. Does he really need all the lunch and snacks he puts away? Why? Nicholas Caycedo, whose first name “Diego” is meant to tell of experience as an Hispanic, goes from very quiet…to his meaningful changes. Immigration is an important subject to him.
Lipica Shah as Rani, of Indian blood, shows many sides of being of color, a feminist, and a related rebel. Her constantly displayed tote bag emblazoned with “Women Up” is part of one of the characterizing costumes designed by Mari Taylor Floyd. Thom Korp’s sound works well even when Rani speaks excitedly in a dim corner (appropriately provided by Ethan Vail’s lighting system).
Almeria Campbell is not only an attractive Black woman—Faith—but has a name that signifies her contribution of a religious attitude to the conference’s opinions and the participants’ personal interactions. She mentions, for example, a “war on Christmas.” Also very attractive is African-American Shawn, who glories in his military career. He’d gladly be in it well beyond retirement, but he’s physically disabled. As portrayed by Lawrence Evans, Shawn wins much more than sympathy. He’s also the one who gets talk focused on racism. A good subject for debate!
All in all, there’s a lot to be said in and for All in One Room.
