Performing in front of an almost full house on opening night, an extremely talented cast of three elicited laughter, shock, sadness and at times discomfort as their dialogue provided a glimpse into the lives of three well known historical figures in Camping with Henry & Tom at Lamb’s Players Theatre. While the scene and background never changed throughout the play, the dramatic shift in emotions felt by the audience kept them captivated. The well-researched histories of the three characters left me fact-checking the more unbelievable and scandalous events discussed during the play and had me conflicted about my perceptions of a president and two brilliant inventors who changed the world as we know it.
It was hard not to notice political parallels drawn between a time long ago and today, with a business man who wanted to become president and fix the country after he felt politicians were unable to get anything done. I was very surprised as I reread the program after the performance to find that the play was written by Mark St. Germain 25 years ago. Mark St. Germain also wrote Freud’s Last Session, another Lamb’s Players’ hit that appeals to history buffs and scholars. Germain’s ability to demonstrate that no matter what time period in history, human nature is constant.
Actors Manny Fernandes, Francis Gercke and Robert Smyth played the three lead characters and were all fantastic. They were able to inspire you at one moment and make you despise them in the next. Looking at their photos in the playbill, I was impressed by their physical transformation to three old geezers stuck in the woods, a great job done by costume design and make-up artists.
Robert Smyth, a local Coronado resident, is not only one of the lead actors, but also the Producing Artistic Director for Lamb’s Players, joining the Lamb’s Player Street Theater in 1976. His portrayal of Thomas Alva Edison was endearing with a combination of wit, humor and compassion. Edison was the least controversial character of the three in my opinion, but I was also surprised by some of the facts and secrets I had no idea were tied to Thomas Edison.
Robert’s wife Deborah Gilmour Smyth was the play’s director. Both Robert and Deborah have been with Lamb’s roughly 40 years and bring entertainment and high quality theater to main street Coronado.
Francis Gercke gave the audience a glimpse of a Henry Ford that was suprising, at times a passionate patriot and others a despicable bigot, a brilliant businessman always looking for the next opportunity.
Manny Fernandes provided an entertaining performance of President Warren G. Harding, dancing alongside Ford at one moment and engaged in an angry debate the next. Fernandes’ ability to make a flawed character like-able demonstrated his impressive acting talent.
Blackmail, betrayal, passion, patriotism, love and hate were all a part of this play that I will admit was not at all what I expected when I entered the theater. I was expecting a light-hearted comedy with historical elements interlaced, instead I left conflicted and with the need to know if what was described during this two hour endeavor was based on fact or fiction. Personally I try to avoid confrontation, and some of the heated confrontations I witnessed during this play made me uncomfortable and in some cases disgusted, so while not a light-hearted uplifting comedy, I applaud the cast, crew and writers for their ability to cause such a mix of emotions and desire for the truth in two hours.
As I walked out of the theater, after enjoying one of the delicious cupcakes available to celebrate opening night, I was glad I had the opportunity to learn something new and get a glimpse into the lives of three of America’s most prominent men. After the play, I felt compelled to share the story with a friend, a knowledgable history buff, to get his perspective and find out if he knew the history of these three men. After hearing my account of the play he said he wanted to see it for himself. Camping with Henry & Tom will be playing at Lamb’s Players Theatre through March 25th.
