If you like your theatrical dramas with a bit of intriguing debate, you’ll want to check out Theatre Knoxville Downtown’s latest, The Man From Earth by Jerome Bixby, which opened last weekend and runs through June 2. While it isn’t necessary to follow sci-fi writers like Bixby to enjoy this production—or even science fiction at all—a little bit of background helps.
While still in his 20s, Bixby (1923-1998) became known for his short stories and as an aspiring screenwriter. His 1953 story “It’s a Good Life” became the basis for a notable 1961 Twilight Zone episode and he later penned four episodes for the original Star Trek series. One of those episodes dealt with the concept of longevity, “Requiem for Methuselah,” an idea that he was also concurrently developing into a screenplay, The Man From Earth. The screenplay was eventually finished just before Bixby’s death in 1998, but another nine years elapsed before it received filming from director Richard Schenkman. In 2012, Schenkman adapted the screenplay into the currently available stage version.
The plot setup is rather simple and revolves around a university history professor, John Oldman, who has, without warning, resigned his teaching position and is packing up to move on. His surprised faculty colleagues arrive at his home, demanding an explanation for his unexpected departure and to say goodbye. And boy, does he have explanation—one that draws the characters into an emotional confrontation, and the audience into a debate teeming with concepts of reality, fantasy, religious belief, immortality, and, ultimately, life and death. While controversy begins and ends in the eye of the beholder, there is certainly ample food for thought in this production as one might expect.
Tasked with creating a dramatic environment for these deceptively difficult concepts, director Sarah Campbell has assembled a cast of both TKD veterans and newcomers that is totally believable as typical university professors with divergent views on most everything. As demanded by the concept, the character of John Oldman (David Snow) must deliver a great deal of expository material in answer to his colleagues’ questions. Snow does this in a remarkably calm manner that often conflicts with the apparent reality of his story. And, it’s a manner made even more oddly interesting by facial expressions that often telegraph the content of the speech at hand. This, of course, gives him room to evolve emotionally, as the character must do in the script’s climax.
Successfully painting the remaining cast as “types” is certainly a big goal of any production of this play. As Harry, the irascible biology professor, Bill Howard fleshed out his role with clever outbursts and entertaining dynamics. Windie Wilson portrayed art history professor, Edith, who finds her devout Christianity challenged by Oldman’s pronouncements. Nailing the fringe archeology professor look was Randy Thompson as Art, a leather-jacket-wearing faculty member who shows up with a young, but impressively articulate student, Linda (Staci Mize-Leve). (Of course, he was just giving her a ride home.) Perhaps the most academic-looking of all was Dan, the anthropologist (Saleh Shahid), who appeared to keep a neutral, open mind in suggesting what-ifs. In love with Oldman is his fellow history colleague, Sandy (Rebecca Gomez), a character that certainly represents the power of love and blind acceptance.
Even those audience members who have willingly suspended disbelief in order to participate in the play’s philosophical exercise may have trouble with the character of Will Gruber (Bill Householder). Psychologist Gruber is invited over by Oldman’s colleagues on the chance that there is dangerous insanity at work, something that Snow’s characterization reveals as virtually impossible. And, Gruber’s role in the play’s final plot twist is, admittedly, a Twilight Zone-type irony.
The Man From Earth is only the second production for Theatre Knoxville Downtown in their new space at 800 S. Central, so it seems they’ll continue to require some accommodation from audiences on issues of scenery, lighting, and ambience. It’s important to remember that community theatre fills a necessary spot in Knoxville’s art scene and is worth supporting, both with attendance and financial support.
The Man From Earth by Jerome Bixby
Theatre Knoxville Downtown
800 S. Central Street (Cumberland Ave)
Thursday-Saturdays at 8:00 PM; Sundays at 3:00 PM
Through June 2
Tickets and Information
Loved the movie, will definitely check this out! Always thought it would make a great stage play.