Review: "Meet the Rock"

Konrad.Marshall

August 23, 2008 by Konrad.Marshall | Staff

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Meet the Rock

What: Hoosier Samuel Harper channels Norman Rockwell for a wide-ranging interview on his art, his life and times, and his famous friends like Grandma Moses and Jackson Pollock.

Where: Theatre on the Square -- Stage Two, 627 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis

Schedule: Monday, Aug. 25 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 30 at 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Why is Hoosier actor and playwright Samuel Harper sitting on stage pretending to be Norman Rockwell?

One of the first lines delivered by Harper provides the perfect explanation: "My art lives on, so why not me?"

In "Meet the Rock", the famed artist basically sits down for a wide-ranging interview with PBS host Charlene Rose (Phyllis Harvey), in a supposed attempt to bring out "the story behind the story of America's Favorite Artist."

Topics of conversation include what his fans think of him, his ill-fated attempts at other artistic styles, his tendency to insert himself into his own work, and Rockwell's opinions on politics and art.

Parts of the banter between interviewer and guest can seem a little contrived at times, and some sections simply fall flat, particularly in terms of humor, like an attempt at a Letterman-style top ten list of responses Rockwell might have for his critics. But, overall, the show is a pleasant history lesson -- albeit one that might suit an older audience -- on a unique American treasure.

The truly interesting portion of the play is Harper's attention to the details of Rockwell's life. In this regard, the two-person show becomes a minor history lesson for those interested in the painter's life.

Throughout the 45-minute show, we gradually learn where Rockwell came from, how he got his big break, and where his influences lie. (Who would have thought, without having it pointed out first, that Rembrandt was an inspiration and source of learning?)

The stories told on stage, about Rockwell's association with Grandma Moses and Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol, when paired with a multimedia slideshow of Rockwell's work and that of his peers, puts the audience in a particular period and place. And as you look over portraits of JFK and Ruby Bridges, you're reminded just how important Rockwell's images were to a nation going through tumultuous change.

Posted in groups: IndyFringe

Forum: Talk

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