Hartford Stage
PRESENTS
Snow Falling
on Cedars
From the best-selling novel by David Guterson
Adapted for the stage by Kevin McKeon
Adapted from the #1 Best-Selling Novel
First produced at Book-It-Repertory Theatre
DIRECTED BY JEREMY B. COHEN
January 13 - February 13, 2011
Reviewed by Donna Bailey-Thompson
Snow Falling on Cedars, written by David Guterson, published in 1995, winner of, among others, the prestigious Pen/Faulkner Award, inspired the movie (1999) of the same name, and the play (2007) now at Hartford Stage . Each of these incarnations share similarities but like three generations of a family, shared characteristics are sharp or blunted, inspiring or ho-hum. To compare versions of the story is a silly waste of time. Each is what it is. Period.
The basic story focuses on the small population of an island in Puget Sound. They cope with the disruption of their community following the surprise attack, December 7, 1941, by the Empire of Japan on the United States fleet moored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The American citizens of Japanese descent are forced to abandon their homes and be transported, identity tags dangling on their coats, to hastily cobbled, primitive camps where they are interned until after World War II ends. Some join the army where as members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (motto, "Go for broke") they become dedicated, ferocious soldiers; even today, the 442nd continues to be the most decorated United States regiment.
Ten years later, most of the Japanese-American families have picked up their lives. Scars remain. Racism exists. A Caucasian fisherman is murdered. A Japanese-American, a veteran of WW2, is arrested. The trial deepens the mystery.
Twelve well-cast actors play 28 roles. How interesting that the lead actor, Brian Tee, whose layered performance as the accused man (Kabuo) is primarily a film and television actor. His stage presence suggests years of stage experience. As the newspaper publisher/editor/reporter Ishmael Chambers, Dashiell Eaves arrived via central casting, so well does he suit the role. Kimiye Corwin's Hatsue is the girl both men loved. The wedding night scene is a happy delight thanks to the joy of Hatsue's parents Hisao (Ron Nakahara) and Fujiro (Mia Tagano) that their daughter has chosen Kabuo.
Makeshi Kata's multi-purpose staging gives a Rubik cube a run for its money without distracting from the performance (unlike No Exit's tipping stage). Joel Moritz's lighting design sharpens the bleakness of the camps, courtroom tension, the awakening of young love. Daniel Baker and Aaron Meicht of Broken Chord Collective created the original music and sound design: when the script mentioned the rain, a blend of misty sounds enhanced the mood.
Act One seemed interminable. Don't make the mistake of leaving at intermission because Act Two has pace, excitement, humor, suspense, and the mystique of an island off the coast of Washington where snow and rain fall on cedars shrouded in mist.
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