by Jeannie Marlin Woods
Intelligent? Provocative? Hilarious? Face-paced? Crowd-pleasing? What is the most exact, precise, factual word or phrase to describe the latest production at the Sharon Playhouse? THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT generates such thought and is, in fact, all of those things. This soul-searching script , jam-packed with snappy dialogue by three highly intelligent people, began with an actual essay written for a magazine. The play, written by Jeremy Kareken & David Murrell and Gordon Farrell is based on the book by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal. The book is based on an actual essay and the fallout it caused.
The story behind the article (or is it an essay?) begins in 2002 when a young man named Levi Presley jumped to his death from the observation deck of the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas. Writer John D’Agata wrote a brilliant and very creative essay on that suicide and proceeded to submit it for publication in a national magazine. His publisher (Emily Primrose in the stage play) holds D’Agata’s writing in high esteem. She finds the article spectacular and potentially a legacy piece for both the author and her magazine, which is struggling to stay afloat amidst the challenges facing print media. She is also aware that writer D’Agata views himself as an essayist who values creativity above hard, cold facts. So, she brings in a brash young intern, Jim Fingal, to just check a few things before they go to press.
Jennifer Van Dyck as Emily Primrose and Reynaldo Piniella as Jim Fingal in the Sharon Playhouse production of “The Lifespan of a Fact” by Jeremy Kareken & David Murrell and Gordon Farrell, directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge. Photo by Aly Morrissey. 
Reynaldo Piniella as Jim Fingal in the Sharon Playhouse production of “The Lifespan of a Fact” by Jeremy Kareken & David Murrell and Gordon Farrell, directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge. Photo by Aly Morrissey. 
Jennifer Van Dyck as Emily Primrose and Reynaldo Piniella as Jim Fingal in the Sharon Playhouse production of “The Lifespan of a Fact” by Jeremy Kareken & David Murrell and Gordon Farrell, directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge. Photo by Aly Morrissey. 
Reynaldo Piniella as Jim Fingal and Jonathan Walker as John D’Agata in the Sharon Playhouse production of “The Lifespan of a Fact” by Jeremy Kareken & David Murrell and Gordon Farrell, directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge. Photo by Aly Morrissey. 
And so, the battle begins. At first Fingal seems a bit green and naïve, but certainly ambitious as he takes on his first big assignment at the magazine. Reynaldo Piniella turns in an energetic, ardent performance as Fingal. (A role played on Broadway by Daniel Radcliffe.) Jennifer Van Dyck is cast as Emily Penrose—a dynamic woman, driven by her passion for great journalism. Van Dyck plays Penrose to the hilt—her beautifully modulated voice and forceful interpretation create a compelling and visceral character who is one to be reckoned with. But it is Jonathan Walker’s rendition of the writer John D’Agata that was most authentic and (perhaps, depending upon your point of view) the most sympathetic. He imbues D’Agata with a passion for finding truth in senseless acts, for digging out the humanity behind the fact, and one wants to let his character tell his story from his very personal point of view.
THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT is a fascinating 85-minute knock-down drag-out argument between three people who deeply believe they are right. Fingal sees facts as immutable. D’Agata tells us he is not interested in accuracy, he is only interested in truth, saying “Facts have to be the final measure of the truth.”
These impressive performances are certainly engendered by the skillful direction of Marcia Milgrom Dodge. Dodge is ingenious in her staging. The audience is brought up on stage, literally. Setting up about 100 seats on the stage in a thrust configuration, the playing area gives the characters a restricted arena for their combat. Dodge, aided by the imaginative scene design by TJ Greenway, keep the action moving and intriguing. The multiple locations of the play are realized elegantly and simply and the “wallpaper” of D’Agata’s rundown apartment is the actually a printout of the essay that is the core conflict of the play.
This reviewer found the questions raised by the script engrossing and compelling – it takes a long time to process how one feels about facts vs. truth. The Sharon Playhouse has a winner in this intelligent, funny, dynamic, and challenging work. This 2023 season has provided so much entertainment and THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT is a fitting conclusion to that marvelous season.
Production Team:
Playwrights: Jeremy Kareken & David Murrell and Gordon Farrell based on the book by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal
Director: Marcia Milgrom Dodge
Fight Choreographer: Tyler Miranda
Set Design: TJ Greenway
Lighting Design: Hailey O’Leary
Costume Design: Kathleen Deangelis
Sound Design: David Bullard
Cast:
Reynaldo Piniella as Jim Fingal
Jennifer Van Dyck as Emily Penrose
Jonathan Walker as John D’Agata
Information
LIFESPAN OF A FACT runs Thursday through Sunday September 29 through October 15th. Performances are at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Matinees are at 2:00 p.m. Thursday and Saturday and at 3:00 on Sundays.
For tickets, phone: 860-364-7469
Running time 85 minutes with no intermission
The Sharon Playhouse
49 Amenia Road, Sharon, CT 06069
Closing date is October 15
Website: SHARONPLAYHOUSE.ORG