Come Back, Little Sheba at the Little Station Theater in Urbana, Il. Photo by Allison Macey
Until November 23, the Station Theatre in Urbana will be hosting the production Come Back, Little Sheba, directed by Tom Mitchell. Come Back, Little Sheba was originally written by William Inge in 1949 and played on Broadway in 1950. Inge was a playwright from Kansas who knew and understood the characters of the Midwest. Inge was an alcoholic and a closeted gay man, so he knew about the unspoken longings and needs that go unexpressed in a society that is judgmental and moralistic.
Mitchell has been directing for 40 years.
“I began when I was just a college student — probably too young to know what I was doing,” he said.
He majored in English literature and theater, two elements which “come together in directing,” he said.
“In the case of Come Back, Little Sheba, it was an interesting project to work with two mature actors to explore the psychological complexity of the characters in this play,” Mitchell said.
Doc, played by Lincoln Machula, is a chiropractor who lost his dream of becoming a doctor when he developed an addiction to alcohol. But Lola, played by Deb Richardson, is the tragic character of the play. Although she seems to be a very upbeat and hopeful woman, she “lives in the fantasy of movies and radio” as well as in Marie, played by Sarah Heir, who boards with them while she is in college and seems to reflect the vibrant and flirtatious young woman that Lola once was.
Come Back, Little Sheba at the Little Station Theater in Urbana, Il. Photo by Allison Macey
The play revolves around themes of loneliness, loss and illusion and is presented by a cast that can embody the anguish that these characters endure. Machula portrays the struggle that his character faces and is able to elicit emotions from the audience from a small shift in tone or even a miniscule change in facial expression. Machula’s interaction with Richardson was especially impressive because of the chemistry they shared as well as life experiences they were able to incorporate into their respective characters.
But one of Mitchell’s favorite parts about directing this production in particular is the knowledgeable and talented cast.
“It is an emotionally demanding play,” Mitchell said. “Thankfully, the actors who play Doc and Lola are emotionally mature performers who are able to draw upon their own life experiences.”
The advantage with a mature cast is that they are able to embody the inner turmoil of their characters as well as understand the setting in which the play is meant to take place in.
“In this cast, I was able to work with adults who have a broader perspective. … When I mentioned events from the 1950s, they recognized what I was talking about,” Mitchell said.
The work that Mitchell and the cast put into Come Back, Little Sheba is evident, showcasing a classic play that is definitely worth seeing.