It's Not About The Goat
The Stage at Burke Junction takes on Albee's Moral Relativism play with Guts and Gusto
At curtain call of The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? at The Stage at Burke Junction, I don’t know what the hell just happened but I do know one thing: That is a real goat.
Now almost a week after seeing the show, I realize that this show is a powerful exploration of human nature, love, and the limits of societal acceptance. It really makes you think about what we consider taboo and why. And it makes me think: Wait, am I the problem? Am I the drama?
Lori Russo and Kurt Johnson are absolute perfection. Photo Credit: Gabriel Montoya
The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?, running at The Stage at Burke Junction through June 30, centers around Martin (Kurt Johnson), a successful architect, and his wife, Stevie (Lori Russo). Martin and Stevie have a seemingly perfect life and all the marks of success: a beautiful home, professional acclaim, a loving child. The set, the spacious living area of the couple, is an unspoken blend of the couple: an artfully styled bookcase for the muted and studious Martin and many Objet d'art for the vibrant and refined Stevie.
We meet the couple in their living space and we see their spark, their chemistry radiating from Russo and Johnson. Martin is preoccupied by something, Kurt Johnson’s charismatic befuddlement makes the audience warm to him immediately. He is our best friend’s father, our favorite college professor, our husbandly ideal. He may have forgotten why he has a business card in his pocket but he has never forgotten how much he loves Stevie. Their ease together comes through Albee's specific dialogue full of language games and banter and with the two very seasoned actors, you forget for a moment that you are watching a play. For the first few moments of the play, you could just be sitting in a living room with a couple of friends. In juxtaposition to the heightened dialogue from Albee, Johnson and Russo’s natural chemistry is a perfect fit.
As Stevie leaves the scene, we meet Ross (Gabriel Montoya), Martin’s best friend. On the occasion of Martin’s 50th birthday, Ross is there to film a segment for a television program as Martin has recently been awarded a prestigious prize. From the outside, Martin’s career is thriving, he is on the top of the world.
And then Martin confesses to Ross that he is in love with a goat named Sylvia.
Yes, as in an actual goat.
Gentle readers, I am not going to lie to you. What happens in the next 80 minutes is a LOT. But it is also one of the most thought provoking and intellectually challenging pieces of theatre that I have seen, not just in Sacramento but ever.
Peter DeMarzio rounds out this powerhouse cast as Stevie and Martin’s son. Billy, who identifies as gay, adds another layer of complexity to the play's exploration of unconventional relationships and societal norms. Aligned with Gabriel Montoya’s performance as Ross, the character who bears witness to the sins of the father, these two characters frame the outrage of Martin’s actions as an audience member would see it. DeMarzio’s Billy vacillating between fight or flight (his character leaves and comes back a lot) and Montoya’s incredulous rage, the audience knows where they are supposed to be via these two masterfully played witnesses.
The Goat or Who is Sylvia? is a modern example of a Greek problem play, a type of ancient drama that delves into complex moral, social, and political issues, often presenting characters with difficult ethical dilemmas. These plays challenge the audience to think critically about the issues rather than providing clear resolutions. Theatre sage and director Anthony D’Juan has never shied away from titles that don’t provide clear resolutions (directing titles such as Bootycandy, Bash, and Endgame to name a few) and while this is a problem play, this “problem” is nothing short of perfection.
In closing, I have questions:
Question One: How is Anthony D’Juan not the artistic director of his own theatre company? His nearly 30 years on the Northern California theatre scene as a triple threat (director, actor, and prolific playwright) combined with celebrated collaborations with some of the best local and national talent spells it out for me: This man has been ready. If I were Scott Klier, currently tasked with reviving the defunct brand of STC, I would give that man a call.
Question Two: Who is gonna cast Lori Russo as Dolly Gallagher Levi and stage The Matchmaker immediately? Because I need to see it!
Question Three: Did it have to be a real goat?
The Goat or Who is Sylvia? plays at The Stage at Burke Junction through June 30th. Tickets can be found here.
