Theater Company of Lafayette presents a strong production of an immigrant family from another time
Edmonds Stories, set in the early 1900s, has a theme that translates as easily to today as it does more than a century ago. Currently playing at Theater Company of Lafayette, it focuses on a prevailing issue we often hear about now – immigration.
This is also a story about family and the complex relationships that evolve between parents and their children. Along with these universal themes, the well-crafted play written by Nora Douglass will touch the heart of contemporary theatergoers. Lovingly directed by Madge Montgomery, the artistic director of Theater Company of Lafayette, Edmonds Stories delivers a solid emotional punch touching upon relatable circumstances and strong characters.
The story centers around the Medin family, who have recently migrated from Sweden to Edmonds, Washington hoping to find their American dream. It is a family of six including mother Johanna (Munam Goodwin), and father Jonas (Dean Espitallier) along with their four daughters. We observe the family as they struggle with their new country and all that is expected of them to assimilate. Along the way, there are familial clashes that create a sense of instability within the core group. But along comes the advent of the camera, introduced to the family by Mr. Joe Jackson (Matthew Dickson) which captures the imagination of the family and particularly daughter Astrid (Cristina Twigg). Spreading her wings and eager to pursue photography, Astrid leaves home for Seattle. The production includes excellent photographs taken by the playwright of the performers in character and projected on the stage wall.
Throughout the play, Johanna is continually soul-searching about the decision to leave Sweden and move to America. This creates issues between both her and the daughters as well as with her husband. As the girls mature, they all test the limits set by their mother and often push the envelope — much to Johanna’s displeasure.
As Johanna, Goodwin delivers a powerful performance that displays mothering instincts to their extreme. She is overbearing at times but never strays from her strong beliefs about what is best for herself and her family. Her resonating intonation is perfect for the character of the recently displaced migrant and adds a sense of truth to her performance.
Other standouts in the production are Twigg as Astrid, Espitallier as Jonas, and Dickson as Mr. Joe Jackson. Twigg gives a rock-solid performance as the daughter with eyes beyond Edmonds and her family. She commands the stage with both a sense of wonder and urgency, hoping to discover what lies beneath her simple upbringing. Both Espitallier and Dickson provide a sense of honesty and clarity to the production with down-to-earth and well-developed characters.
The play is both thoughtful and consistent as family drama and historical record. Douglass has crafted full-bodied characters, each with their own demonstratable motives throughout. As directed by Montgomery, Edmonds Stories moves fluidly from start to finish with each scene and interaction given the appropriate amount of attention necessary to establish a solid throughline. Of special note is the diverse casting that Montgomery has utilized in her favor by selecting a strong ensemble of actors that play well together and support each other’s individual performances.
I have now seen two productions at Theater Company of Lafayette, including In the Next Room and Edmonds Stories, and both have established a high bar for important theatrical work being done just outside the Denver metropolitan area and well worth the short trip to Lafayette.
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