9/11 Clouds Dim "Sunlight"

Marin Theatre Company’s press release states that it is “committed to the development and production of new plays by American playwrights, with a comprehensive New Play Program. . . and a leadership position in the National New Play Network.” The theatre’s newest production, Sunlight, fits the mission statement; it is both a winner of MTC’s Sky Cooper New American Play Prize and a co-production with New Play Network. Jasson Minadakis directed the work. But the question with each prizewinner is, will this one become a new classic? Will this playwright be the next Arthur Miller?

Sunlight’s drama takes place in a New England university president’s home, a bucolic old residence now filled with packing boxes. (Wonderful set by J. B. Wilson.) The president’s adult daughter, Charlotte, is cursing into her telephone as she feeds papers into a shredder. The president’s loyal, long-time assistant – called either Midge, Marianne, or Mimi – objects to the shredding (“It’s an archive!”) and to the curses.

Now, brushing off snow, Vincent, Charlotte’s ex, arrives to summarize, “Nothing says scandal like a living room with a shredder.” He wants to reconcile with Charlotte, to take her out for steaks and martinis, as they did in the old days, but Charlotte is adamant that these boxes, containing thirty years’ worth of her father’s records, law reviews and taxes must be organized, put away or destroyed – and fast. Dad is facing a vote of confidence from the Board of Regents. It could go either way.

Her father, Matthew Gibbon, arrives in a fury, having crossed lines of student protestors. His disloyalty list has 300 names on it now, but he refuses to be compared to Nixon. Those on the list are people who’ve brought down the law school, “his brightest jewel,” and who have turned their backs on him now. They objected to him shutting down the student newspaper, backed the law school’s defense of “controversial techniques” in the questioning of political prisoners. “Where’s the outrage?” he demands. And Vincent, his former son-in-law, is now dean of the law school.

The play’s title, comes from Vincent’s quote, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant,” referring to the Regents’ investigation of the president’s alleged law school break-in. (The student paper left out “alleged.”) And as the investigation goes on, the old home’s occupants shout, rage, bully, cajole, and shout some more. Sunlight is a loud play.

The actors, as always at MTC, are superb. Carrie Paff is the conflicted Charlotte, Kevin Rolston presents a reasonable, right-wing Vincent, Charles Dean is the “mighty liberal university president,” and Wanda McCaddon is dedicated Midge, who just wants everybody to be polite and have something to eat. The audience would like to see more of Midge, who’s the only thing close to comic relief.

Sunlight is an idea-driven play. Its characters are vehicles for carrying those ideas. It has passion and intelligence and gives viewers something to talk about afterward. However, even though the play was only written in 2006, its backward focus is already starting to make it feel dated. Dated works do not become classics. And Sharr White, at least in this work, is not looking like the next Arthur Miller.

Sunlight will play at the Marin Theatre Company in Mill Valley through Sunday, February 14. Performances are given every day but Monday, with ticket prices ranging from $20 to $51. Performance times vary. For complete information, please call the box office, 388-5208, or see www.marintheatre.org.