“Yankee Tavern” at Theatre One

By Richard Pacheco

            Ever since 9/11 conspiracy theories have grown in abundance, some more plausible than others. Steven Deitz’s “Yankee Tavern” takes a close look at the event and offers its own conclusions in this impressive production with keen acting and firm direction. Deitz is a prolific and widely produced playwright who has garnered many awards over the years from a multitude of productions of his work worldwide. It is an absorbing and intriguing production filed with twists and turns and abundant in conspiracy theories.

            The jukebox in the Yankee Tavern has been topped since Sept. 11, 2001, at 8:46 a.m., just as the first hijacked plane rammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. It ended in the middle of Don McLean’s “American Pie.” Throughout the play there is strong opinion about what really happened that tragic day and the facts used to back it up are remarkably accurate and convincing. “Yankee Tavern” uses two tried-and-true character types to deliver the message: the slightly crazy best friend and the mysterious stranger. The play is set in 2006.

The more normal characters are Adam who now owns his father’ bar while coign to college and his fiancé Janet. These two have only two areas of contention in their life. When they should let go of the dilapidated bar and Janet wonders why so many Save the Date cards for their wedding end up being returned marked address unknown.

Adam’s pal Ray is a real conspiracy theory buff, in fact he is obsessed with conspiracies which abound around every corner. He enters wearing headphones and is on a radio call in show about the rigged 2000 presidential election. Ray sees a conspiracy around every corner and thinks of his two young friends as “marsupials” who live in “protective pouches.”

Ray has his own theories about what happened with the twin towers, laying the blame not on the planes but on Bush and the Saudi royal family which Janet dismisses. But this day is different as a stranger in the bar, Palmer, a customer who orders two beers agrees with him. Palmer says that he found a hijacker’s passport in the rubble that day — or rather he planted it there, as instructed, and then pretended to discover it. Palmer seems to know a lot of things, some of them pieces of personal information about the other characters. Just who is he?

Amanda Hayter is Janet who is more concerned about her upcoming wedding and having her fiancé  finally get rid of the dilapidated bar so they can get on with their lives. She is also concerned about the nature of Adam’s relationship with one of his college professors. Hayter is energetic and sincere in her performance, a delight.

Dan Groves is Adam, the bar owner who is conflicted about how long and if he should try to hold onto the bar before the city condemns it to demolition. He is also conflicted about his relationship with his professor, a woman whom is is intrigued by and finds absorbing in many ways. Groves is full of raw energy in the role, honest and vivid in his portrayal.

Omer Courcy is Ray, the conspiracy nut. Everything is a conspiracy to Ray, there is a new one around every corner and every public incident and Ray knows everything behind all of them. He is not afraid to speak out about it either, there is no hesitation on his part at all. Courcy is a comic gem in the role, an impeccable balance between the endearing and the oddball.

Frank Piekut is Palmer a man of mystery and secrets galore who wanders into the bar for a drink and always orders a second beer for his no present friend. Piekut carries the right aura of mystery and dark secretiveness to make it work. He could have walked out of a CIA movie with the same flair.

Peg Holzemer directs with a keen touch, full of finesse and confidence. She keeps the mystery moving and the laughs coming with solid pacing.

The play is loaded with fun while also being provocative. They have a talk back at the end which always proves to be fascinating as audience an cast tackles quesoitn about the content of the play. The mysterious ending might irritate some of simply seem justified under the circumstances.

It continues on March. 17, 18, 19 at 7:30 p.m. and again Jan 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday Matinee at 2 p.m. on March. 20. All shows are at the Alley Theatre, at 133 Centre St. in Middleboro. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance. General admission is $20, with seniors/students at $18 — cash only at door. On opening Night, Jan.14, all tickets are $18. Free Parking at the Middleboro Town Hall