In The Now

January 23, 2002

Reviewed By Polly Warfield

"In The Now"

Theater:Santa Monica Playhouse
Location:1211 4th St., Santa Monica.
Phone:(310) 394-9779, ext. 1.
Starts:January 18, 2002
Ends: February 17, 2002

In her courageous onstage autobiography, actor/writer Terrylene takes her life in her hands and holds it out to show us, in vivid American Sign Language, what it was and what it is. In the audience, front row center, actor Elizabeth Greene gives voice to Terrylene's silent speech so skillfully they become one.

Deaf actor Terrylene was victim, survivor, now victor. Born into a hearing world, Terrylene was a joyous, exuberant child. Then her stepfather, Jesse, began coming to her bed at night to touch and hurt her. The child was 6 years old, didn't understand, didn't know what to do. This among other things is a plea for attention to the problem of child molestation and protection of its victims. It is also an exorcism of one child's demons of pain, rage, and needless guilt. It nevertheless manages to be joyous and life-affirming.

Terrylene grew up in San Antonio in a Latino-American family. Plagued by doubts, she didn't tell anyone about Jesse ("I must be crazy. I can't tell Mama, she'd think me nasty"). At the Texas School for the Deaf, she found "beautiful people who let me know life is good." She tells of a visit to her beloved grandmother, padding around in bare feet. Terrylene performs barefoot--funny, but just as she confided to Grandma she'd always hated how her toes looked, I had noticed her unusually nice-looking feet.

Finally, long gone from the family, Jesse is brought to justice. And only now do we hear Terrylene's voice. It rings out with startling power as she cries, "Yes! Him!" But Jesse emerges through law's revolving door with "a slap on the wrist" and continues to molest children.

Terrylene communicates eloquently with graceful hands and dancing fingers, with every atom of her lively, expressive face and agile body. Rapport and symmetry of design elements empower the piece: the "substance and symbol" of Emily Steinberg's evocative set, and mood enhancing background music of percussion and chimes from composer/musician Marilyn Donadt. Director Mark Travis' master touch is echoed in his program notes that hail "the autobiographical story" as the most intimate, courageous, and ultimate expression of an actor. The intermissionless piece is a little over-long. But the light that shines from Terrylene's generous smile is a joyous, glowing affirmation of her spirit, and it's good to know her story has a happy ending.