Hello Beautiful People,
I distinctly remember driving to school one day in the pouring, I’m talking POURING rain, and seeing one of my students walking to school. With no umbrella. Soaked to the bone. And I distinctly remember thinking, gee, I wish I could give them a ride the rest of the way, a mere mile.
But, the sad part is, I couldn’t.
And as Carey Crim so gracefully points out in her play, “Conviction,” we do not live in a world where that’s feasible anymore. It’s not ok. It’s not safe – for we live in a world where people are always ready to cast the first stone, place blame, and cause a media circus.
“Conviction”, a new play by Carey Crim that is currently playing at Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, tells the story of Tom Hodges, a charismatic, confident and caring teacher that students adore and parents admire. The smart, wise-cracking colleague with all the answers. The neighbor who takes care of the neighborhood. The perfect husband and father. But when a student accuses Tom of crossing a line, everything changes. This delicately balanced, beautifully nuanced new family drama digs deep beneath the surface of a happy suburban existence to explore the damage done when seeds of mistrust are planted. It asks the question — How can we live with conviction when some questions cannot be answered?
There’s many things to love about this production, but I’ll just touch on my favorites.
I loved the script. The story. I loved the way Crim dived into topics that can raise an eyebrow or two with class and realism that was both refreshing and energizing. I was fully enraptured in the story, a testament to both the writing of Crim, and the skillful direction of Scott Schwartz.
And while I am in awe of the entire cast, (Sarah Paulson, Garrett Dillahunt, Brian Hutchinson, Elizabeth Reaser, and Daniel Burns) I was blown away by the performance of Garret Dillahunt. I felt bad for him. I liked him. I wanted to hate him. I was surprised by him. Perplexed. Confused. Dillahunt takes the audience on a range of human emotions, it is a roller coaster ride, and when he is coupled with the incomparable Sarah Paulson, you simply cannot take your eyes away from the stage.
In addition to this outstanding cast, the production team features the talents of Anna Louizos (Set Designer), Mike Billings (Lighting Designer), Jessica Ford (Costume Designer), Bart Fasbender (Sound Designer), Kathy Fabian (Props Designer), and Jessie Vacchiano (Production Stage Manager).
Conviction closes on June 15th, and I urge you to go see this show.
Tickets can be purchased online now at www.baystreet.org or by calling the Box Office at 631-725-9500.
Go see this show.
You know I never steer you wrong.
Live, Love, Learn,