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Tom Whalen (right) plays "Panhandle Slim" and John Seibert (left) plays "The Oklahoma Kid" in Jeff Daniels' new play.
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Jeff Daniels admits that just because his name is on it, doesn't make it good. And that's why he leans on people such as Purple Rose Artistic Director Guy Sanville to help make it good. Or in the case of Daniel's latest play, "Panhandle Slim & The Oklahoma Kid," make it very good.
The new play, which hit the Purple Rose Theatre stage earlier this month and will run at least through the summer, is not only good, but it's about finding the good in people.
While it takes awhile to find the goodness in Panhandle Slim, it takes only a few seconds to find the goodness in setting the stage for the rest of the evening. A dramatic opening introduces Panhandle Slim to the audience, who through the course of the next 90 minutes will learn - with the help of the Oklahoma Kid - how this cowboy arrived here in the condition he finds himself in.
Panhandle Slim isn't a pretty picture - he's more a picture you would find under the headline "most wanted." He's made a lot of mistakes, committed plenty of sins and isn't exactly reeling with remorse.
Oklahoma Kid is quite the opposite. He's spry, filled with life and a song in his heart. Carrying a six string instead of a six-shooter, Oklahoma Kid fills up this dry and lonesome stretch of prairie with songs such as "There's a Song in My Saddle," "Passin' Through," and "Take My Life and Let It Be."
Of course, Oklahoma Kid is in a little better shape than his new found friend. Panhandle Slim, who probably doesn't have a song in his heart on good days, is having a pretty bad day when we meet him. So it's safe to say that singing isn't exactly at the top of his priority list at the moment.
But Oklahoma Kid believes music is what he needs now more than ever and is there to provide the melody for his malady.
The two cowboys get to know each other as the result of unfortunate circumstances as they argue the virtues of mayhem, music and the meaning of life. It's a ride filled with laughs, reflection, denial, plenty of music and, in the end, even remorse.
Tom Whalen (Panhandle Slim) and John Seibert (The Oklahoma Kid) are outstanding in their portrayals as complete opposites. And whether you "read it somewhere," "overhear it," or just "make it up," there is no denying that these two actors are exceptional at their craft.
"I wrote these two parts for these two actors," Daniels said. "I try to write for as many actors in the company as possible. I like spreading it around. I know that when I write a play, it's a big deal. I'm not blind to that. For the actors as well. This is their Broadway. So when I can, I like to spread that around."
In writing the play, Daniels says the characters, "led the way." And the two actors lead the way on stage, grabbing the audience from the gripping opening all the way to the wonderful payoff at the end.
The two actors are so good that the play could have stood quite well on their performances alone. And that's originally how it was drawn up.
"We did a reading on Feb. 26 and it was just the two cowboys," Daniels said. "Guy read it and said, 'I am going to ask you to consider one thing.' He asked me to expand it, and said there were opportunities for staging and theatricality if you added this character and that character. It would still be the two main characters, but when they start to talk about this and that, the character they are talking about walks out on stage."
Daniels agreed and decided to what he calls, "open it up."
"I told him to give me the three of four scenes he's referring to and I will go and open it up," Daniels said. "I turned it in a week later, we did a reading in early March and we were very happy with it. It's the script we brought into rehearsals on May 20 and I probably changed three lines after that."
Panhandle Slim and the Oklahoma Kid still dominate the show, but their performances are only made stronger with the addition of a few minor characters who make major contributions. What's most surprising is how well these actors pull this story off considering how new this is to them. They seem to have been telling this story for years, not weeks.
While Whalen and Seibert are Purple Rose veterans, two relative newcomers take their spot in the spotlight.
Chelsea native Phil Powers appears in his first production as a resident artist. He proves that not only can he act, but can kick up a mean dance number when "provoked." And Jessica Garrett makes her professional acting debut as the "young woman."
A former member of the Purple Rose apprentice program, Garrett plays her part like a seasoned pro. In fact, no one would ever guess it was her first time on the Purple Rose stage.
Daniels is not surprised at all by the quality of the "rookie" actors.
"Our workshops and classes and boot camps that we host and teach is like our minor league system," Daniels said. "We teach what it is we do so when these people come up through that and end up on our stage we are all coming from the same textbook. And the people who don't end up on our stage go off to other theaters and raise the level of acting."
Daniels says the Purple Rose style of acting is about being honest.
"You tell the truth to each other," he says.
In Daniels' new play, Panhandle Slim and the Oklahoma Kid certainly tell the truth.
"And if it sounds right, it must be true."
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