{There’s a reason they’re called the Stampers. Hank Stamper (P.J. Sosko) test drives a new pair of caulk (pronounced “cork’) boots in Sometimes a Great Notion, opening April 4th on the Main Stage.}

I saw a runthrough of Sometimes a Great Notion in the rehearsal hall yesterday.  The company was still digesting new pages of text (some had only arrived that morning), but you could already feel how powerful an evening it is going to be.  From the first gorgeous lines describing the banks of a river in Oregon, to the humor of the logging family, to the aching losses that arrive in the end - it is going to be a huge evening of theater.

{Hank Stamper (P.J. Sosko) sizes up his little brother Leland (Karl Miller).}

One of the most difficult aspects of this piece has been finding the right cast members.  We had two workshops during the developmental process, and had wonderful actors in the three principal roles.  But those roles/characters are extremely idiosyncratic and tough to nail down.  Lee, the younger son - has to convince us that his roots are in Oregon, but his mind has taken flight to lofty literary heights stoked at his time back east at Yale.  Hank, the older brother, has to feel ‘of the earth’, sexy, intimidating and potentially dangerous.  And Viv, Hank’s wife - has to convince us both that she loves these men, and that her self-knowledge is something outside her grasp at the beginning of the story.  Not easy on any front.  I’m delighted to report, though, that the actors playing these roles for the world premiere are fantasssssstic.

{Stamper Family Values: Pictured from top right are patriarch Henry Stamper (Tobias Andersen), his nephew Joe Ben (Andy Paterson), daughter in law Vivian (Sarah Grace Wilson) heir apparant Hank (P.J. Sosko) and prodigal younger son Leland (Karl Miller).}

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