VPA’s ‘The Tin Woman’ will have you laughing through your tears

WASILLA — Making its Alaska stage debut, Valley Performing Arts’ rendition of ‘The Tin Woman’ will sneak up on you emotionally. Every preview I’ve read about this play written by Sean Grennan speaks of the lead character Joy’s (Tracy Jones) struggles after receiving a heart transplant and dealing with survivor’s guilt. The play is much more than that. It also deals with unexpected ending of a young man’s life, Jack (Cory Rausa). And how Jack’s parents Alice (Wendy Golter) and Hank (Michael Sheehan) deal with their own guilt and mourning as well as that of Jack’s sister Sammy (Lesley Hoffman).

Director Karl Kopperud assembled a superb team of actors. Tracy Jones makes you believe that the struggles of Joy prior to the heart transplant and after are very real. One would have the impression that a heart transplant recipient would be overjoyed with a second lease on life, but this play educates us on the fact that there is tremendous pressure that goes along with receiving such a gift. Jones’ performance brings to light those very real internal issues. Her performance throughout is strong.

The most difficult part to play would have to be Jack. Cory Rausa pulls it off. He is on stage in almost every scene with very little dialogue. Jack’s soul is not at rest because those he left behind are tormented. He is present for every struggle of those he loved — even Joy, with whom he had a chance meeting at a coffee shop prior to the car accident that took his life. Rausa had to deliver with facial expressions and body language in almost every scene, emotions the likes of which would have made a lesser actor appear to be merely loitering. But Rausa was engaging.

Wearing two hats as Joy’s nurse and then Joy’s best friend Darla, Deborah Patrick was so good that it wasn’t until I read the program after the performance to realize it was only one actress playing both roles. As Joy’s over enthusiastic nurses she answers every one of Joy’s sarcastic overtures with a hilariously positive response. Then as Joy’s intrusive best friend Darla she was able to transition her persona to fit the bill. Patrick showed great range from comedy to serious concern for her friend.

Supplying much of the comedic relief was Lesly Hoffman as Sammy, Jack’s emotional sister. Hoffman brought many laughs out of the audience. The character is overly positive with life is full of rainbows and butterflies attitude. Hoffman’s performance relayed to the audience the conflict of losing a loved one against staying over the top positive. Never really grieving, a sort of happy depression, if you will. Hoffman was a consistent scene stealer.

Wendy Golter playing Jack’s mother showed the struggle of a mother who lost a child yet feels compelled to hold the family together, with no support from her husband. Golter’s performance drew empathy from the audience. In contrast Michael Sheehan as Jack’s father Hank is so full of disdain and impatience he becomes an unsympathetic character until it all comes together at the very end. Sheehan plays it perfectly and when the audience discovers why the role of Hank is portrayed in this fashion it brings them to tears.

The Tin Woman will have you laughing through your tears. Karl Kopperud and crew put together an outstanding production. Performances continue each Friday and Saturday evening at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm through October 1st. For ticket information call 373-0195 or visit valleyperformingarts.org.