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Dayna Palya in Riverside Theatre’s Mauritius (Photos by Tai Randall
By Linda Gordon Hengerer
I wasn’t expecting to be invested in the appeal of collecting the rarest stamps, but the cast of Theresa Rebeck’s Mauritius at Riverside Theatre show the personal side of philately. If errors are what make a stamp valuable, the personal storylines in the play show how human failings, or errors, accrue from grief and greed.
Losing a parent is fraught anytime, but naïve Jackie is bereft after her mother passes.
Jackie visits a stamp shop clutching a stamp album left to her by her mother. She’s unsure whether the album contains stamps of any value but was referred to Phil as a stamp expert by a mutual acquaintance.
Phil refuses to look at the album unless Jackie pays him, but she doesn’t have the money to do that. Jackie’s mother left her the stamp album and bills.
Fellow customer Dennis volunteers to look through the album and tell Jackie if there are any stamps of value. Jackie doesn’t see Dennis freeze when he stops at a particular page in the album; he tells her there’s nothing of note in the album.
Jackie leaves the stamp shop and goes home. Going through her mother’s clothes and bills, Jackie is interrupted first by her half-sister Mary and then by Dennis’s unexpected visit.
Dennis tries to winkle the stamp album away from Jackie, but although she’s inexperienced in life, she’s cautious enough to feel protective of the album her mother left her. If it’s worthless, why is Dennis so interested in it?
Mary insists the stamps are hers. It was her father’s father who put the album together, not Jackie’s, and Mary has happy memories of hearing stories about the stamps from her grandfather.
Dennis contacts Sterling, a wealthy and avid stamp collector, with tales of a rare stamp. Two rare stamps, in fact: the Mauritius “Post Office” one penny and two pence stamps. They plan to con Jackie into selling the stamps for much less than they’re worth, but she surprises them and things don’t turn out as expected.
Philatelists will enjoy this play about stamps, and non-philatelists will learn something about stamps and collectors. The story behind the Mauritius “Post Office” stamps is accurate, and it’s easy to see how a collector could become carried away by the possibility of owning one of the rarest stamps.
The five-person cast make the most of the material and their proximity to the audience. How far will Jackie go to sell the album? What is Sterling willing to do to own the rare stamps? Violence and stamps seem like unlikely companions, but the Mauritius “Post Office” stamps incite death threats and fights.
Jackie, Mary, and Dennis change over the course of the play. Sterling and Philip remain static characters due to the amount of time they’re on stage.
Three cast members make their Riverside Theatre debut (Dayna Palya, Katharine McLeod and Liam Craig-Philip). Rod Brogan and Wynn Harmon have previously been on the Riverside Theatre stage, as have a number of production staff.
Dayna Palya (Jackie) does an able job in Mauritius. Jackie grows from grief-stricken timidity to a determined young woman looking for a way out of the debt her mother’s illness left. She resents Mary coming home now, after their mother’s death, and taking the stamp album that could save Jackie from debt.
Katharine McLeod (Mary) is convincing as the older sister with (some?) regret about not being at their mother’s side through her illness and death. The tension between Jackie and Mary centers on the stamp album, with Mary sure that her ownership isn’t in doubt
Liam Craig (Philip) may seem familiar from his extensive experience in TV, film, and theatre. He portrays Philip as a frustrated man who loves stamps, if not loving the collectors and uneducated people who want him to “just take a look” at their stamps.
Rod Brogan (Dennis) His Dennis is a schemer who will do anything to make a buck but grows to help Jackie with selling a valuable stamp.
Wynn Harmon (Sterling) has previously appeared in Riverside’s dramatic production of Moon Over Buffalo as well as several musicals. Harmon’s physical presence looms over smaller characters, and Sterling’s inner violence is not always kept in check.
Steve Umberger (Director) is Founder and Artistic Director of Charlotte Repertory Theatre whose credits include producing/directing many Shakespeare plays.
Riverside Theatre in-house staff, Props Supervisor Emily Luongo (Set Designer) and Anna Hillbery (Costume Design), have extensive experience with dramatic plays.
Rounding out the production staff are returning Riverside Theatre veterans Genny Wynn (Lighting Designer), Anthony Narciso (Sound Designer), Wojcik Casting Team (Casting), Audrey M. Brown (Stage Manager), and Sarah Nicholson (Assistant Stage Manager).
Tony Simotes (Fight Director) choreographs the fights that were unexpected for a story about tamps, but are true to the characters.
Mauritius is performed on the Waxlax Stage, with seating on three sides of the stage and sets. The actors perform very close to the audience, which adds to the experience. Drinks are not permitted inside the theater, but bottled water is.
It was chilly in the black box theatre, and I’ll take a heavy sweater with me next time I go. We enjoyed the play and being close to the action. The language might surprise someone expecting a genteel play about stamps, but it would be Rated R if it was a movie.
Doors open one hour before showtime. A full bar and indoor seating are available for early arrivals and during intermission. A recently hired Executive Chef has revamped the Grill menu and added an optional fine dining experience before certain shows.
Riverside Theatre’s remaining productions this season include two musicals (Jesus Christ Superstar and 9 to 5) and the romantic comedy Almost, Maine).
Year-round offerings on Friday and Saturday nights include The Comedy Zone (on the Waxlax Stage) and Live in the Loop (free outdoor concerts), and the Grill and Bar.
Backstage tours, Behind the Scenes classes, and dance classes for adults are available. Youth classes include theater, dance, and music appreciation. An acclaimed children’s theatre has moved from their cramped former quarters onto the Main Stage.
Mauritius runs through February 22 at Riverside Theatre, 3250 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, FL, 32963 (Riverside Park). Matinees Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 2 pm; Evenings Wednesdays-Saturdays 7:30 or 8:00 pm. Running time approximately 120 minutes with a 15-minute intermission. Tickets range from $37.50 (Student Age 17 or younger) to $75 (Adult) for General Admission seating. Visit riversidetheatre.com or call the theatre box office at 772-231-6990.
