Bus Stop is a strange little play. It attempts to coat 1950s innocence and charm over topics now considered quite disturbing.
As a piece that first premiered in 1955, William Inge’s Bus Stop has begun to show its age. However, an interest in reviving the play has brought it to the Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre this fall.
“Bus Stop” is set at a quaint roadside diner in Missouri. A fierce snowstorm brings a busload of travelers into the diner and traps them there for a long night. The small-town establishment is run by a kind yet weary woman named Grace (Carol DeLisle) and her high-school aged helper, Elma (Erin Hanratty). Their interactions with the bus driver (Steve Izant), the local sheriff (Richard Brandt) and the stranded passengers form the crux of the story.
The play mostly surrounds the troubles of Cherie (Rachel Verhaaren), a young, sexually knowing nightclub singer from Kansas City. Cherie has been more or less forced onto the bus by her inexperienced but aggressive cowboy lover, Bo Decker (James Morton). She is now looking for a way to escape his overzealous admiration.
Other travelers include Bo’s friend and mentor, Virgil (Robert Scott Hitcho), and the Professor, Dr. Gerald Lyman (Jose Teneza).
The Professor has a bizarre little subplot in which he bonds with Elma the fresh-faced waitress. Dr. Lyman is a self-hating drunk, but Elma appreciates his education and intelligence, so he tries to seduce her.
The two of them give a stirring rendition of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet. Strangely, a genuine affection develops between them despite the Professor’s alluded-to past as a sex criminal.
It’s all very touching.
One of Bus Stop’s main problems is that modern audiences are less tolerant of certain character “quirks,” such as the propensity towards domestic abuse or statutory rape. Bo’s domination of Cherie and the Professor’s scheming towards Elma just don’t come off as acceptable in 2012, especially in a play that seems to present itself as a light drama.
That being said, the characters are all compelling. It’s just the sentimental ending they reach that falls flat. After all, how much are audiences supposed to sympathize with an adult man who hits on naïve teenage girls, or with a cowboy who won’t listen to a word his girlfriend/hostage says?
A contemporary play dealing with these kinds of subjects would most likely conclude with more confusion and complexity.
In this production, the stand-out characters are diner-owner Grace and wise cowboy Virgil.
These two are both sort of world-weary, but they know a lot and give pretty good advice. Also, Grace’s dalliance with mischievous bus driver Carl results in some of the most relatable moments in the play.
Bo Decker, while a generally unlikeable character, is nonetheless a whirlwind on the small stage.
Morton plays him with innocent ferocity, which is compelling, if not disconcerting. As the play progresses, Bo turns out not to be such a “bad” character; deep down, he is just inexperienced, misguided and bursting with uncontrollable energy. It is clear that the playwright would like us to sympathize and maybe even pity the young man.
But the fact that Bo Decker ultimately gets his happy ending — despite his barbaric behavior — is somewhat ridiculous by today’s standards.
Viewers looking for a realistic conclusion to an immature whirlwind romance aren’t likely to find it in Inge’s play.
While Bus Stop is not particularly well-suited to modern audiences, the Spotlighters have a good reason for choosing it as the first show of their season. In fact, Bus Stop was the first play ever performed at the theatre back in 1962. This year, the Spolighters are celebrating their 50th anniversary and are looking back fondly on their roots.
To the theatre’s credit, the cast and crew give the play their best.
The performers make excellent use of the square stage surrounded by a few rows of seats on all sides. The actors are constantly moving to make sure that every audience member gets a good show.
Above all, the set design is fantastic. The kitchen is especially intricate and attractive. In such an intimate venue, the viewer can really appreciate all the detail that has gone into the decoration.
The background music before the show and during intermission is excellent.
The Spotlighters chose to include upbeat but chilling 50s staples to set the scene. The songs include Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” and Del Shannon’s “Runaway.” The music, like the stage design, draws the audience into the era and specifically into the atmosphere of Grace’s Dinner.
So while Bus Stop itself may not hold up as well today as it did in 1955, it’s still worth a trip down St. Paul St. to see the Spotlighters’ production. The cast and crew clearly have a deep affection for the theatre’s first ever play, and it shows in their work.
If you’re looking for some enthusiastic white-washed nostalgia, then this is the show for you.
Bus Stop is playing at the Spotlighters Theatre through Nov.11.
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