‘Talley’s Folly’ brings ‘a love story’ to town

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Bloomington Playwrights Project is the production of the 30-year-old Pulitzer-prize- winning play “Talley’s Folly” by Lanford Wilson.

The show is called by all members of the cast and crew “a love story”. 

Set in the Second World War, Wilson’s play follows Matt, played by Bloomington resident Lee Parker, who travels to Missouri to reconnect with the girl of his dreams Sally, played by Emily Goodson, also a Bloomington resident.

The show’s director Tom Evans said the play paralleled modern attitudes.

“This is when the American dream was coming to life,” he said.

Evans once worked with Wilson, whom he referred to as “one of our good playwrights,”  while Wilson was working his way up the ladder as a dramaturge, the person responsible for research about the show being produced.

The classic story of the two lovers torn apart and then thrown back together was world-renowned when it won the Pulitzer Prize and garnered a Tony Award nomination for best play in 1980. 

“There was a time when the only thing people really had were words,” Parker said. “It’s beautifully written and they are so honest with each other which is so different from the way we communicate today."

The production of “Talley’s Folly” marks a different direction for the Bloomington Playwrights Project, especially for the actors.

Goodson said the BPP wanted to take a step away from what they usually did in order to celebrate the 30th anniversary.

The production of “Talley’s Folly” began earlier this summer.

“It’s a journey to discover who this person is,” Parker said. “Then you realize that there are parts of this person that are just like you.”

Goodson said before rehearsals began in early August, she and her co-star Parker had already spent much of the end of summer memorizing lines to be ready for the rehearsal process.

“Tom Evans has a very specific vision,” Goodson said, referring to the intensity of the rehearsal process.

Parker’s character, Matt, says in his opening monologue that “because (he’s) not a romantic person (he’s) going to need all the help (he) can get.”

Evans said he calls “Talley’s Folly” the Romeo and Juliet where nobody dies.

“You get a little bit of everything from quick witty banter to heavy conversations,” Goodson said. “It pulls at all of your emotional strings; no one is going to leave disappointed.”

Evans said he feels that “Talley’s Folly” is a “life-affirming play”  that sends the message that “love can conquer all even under the most difficult circumstances."

“We live in a time where we think that we can’t share our feelings, and this play is about having that right,” Parker said. “Everyone should come and see the show.”

MORE INFO:
When:  8 p.m. Sept. 4, 5, 10 and 11 with a 3 p.m. matinee Sept. 6
Where: Bloomington Playwright's Project