Opined November 25, 2003
Usher Nonsense #17 - Trumbo
TRUMBO - Westside Theatre - Downstairs
407 W. 43rd St
If Dalton Trumbo's letters were breadcrumbs, I would offer to have my body dipped in
egg and milk just so I could roll around in them. Trumbo frees ordinary words from the
bondage into which most of us place them. He lines them up, takes aim and shoots
what can only be called a verbal symphony. Responding to a letter of chastisement after
he appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee 1947, he questions
whether the man's argument is with Trumbo himself or the English language in particular
and accuses his "friend" of being a political hermaphrodite - therefore no longer of any
interest to Trumbo.
Dalton Trumbo was part of the Hollywood Ten - writers who were blacklisted as a
result of their appearances before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Each
of them refused to answer questions regarding their knowledge of or participation in the
Communist Party. This is how the show begins, with Trumbo using his linguistic skills
to snare the Committee in their own noose. Although most lawyers would agree today
that the Fifth Amendment gave the writers the right to not answer questions, the
committee (and then the courts during appeals) did not agree. Each of them was sent to
jail.
Trumbo's son, Christopher, has edited his father's letters and originally appeared in this
production as narrator and guide. Gordon MacDonald who does a very good job is now
playing the part. As Trumbo, there has been a succession of actors - Tim Robbins,
Brian Dennehy, Nathan Lane etc. I chose to go see a writer - Gore Vidal. Although
Vidal is not a good actor, he is a good reader. And as these are letters - meant to be read
- I was pleased to be in the audience.
A letter to his daughter's school principal, who stood by as the child was ostracized for
being the daughter of the infamous Trumbo's, is of such crystal critique that you begin
to examine your own splotchy past. His letter sent from prison to Christopher is so
tender it nearly floats off on it's own. On the lighter side, when Christopher attends
Columbia, Trumbo sends him a letter on the subject of masturbation - a full blown and
very personal essay on it's merits and dangers. And, in response to a quote for installing
intercom in his house, Trumbo's stinging and hilarious letter to the company's owner
sounds like a reprimand from God.
I was full to the brim with history, language and reverence for a life that stayed standing
when the winds turned dark and fickle. Trumbo's allegiance to human rights, humor
and relentless argument is a political ammonia capsule. Stick it under your nose and
snap.
If you can't get there - look for "Additional Dialogue: The Letters of Dalton Trumbo"
edited by Helen Manfull.
Usher Nonsense #17 - Trumbo
TRUMBO - Westside Theatre - Downstairs
407 W. 43rd St
If Dalton Trumbo's letters were breadcrumbs, I would offer to have my body dipped in
egg and milk just so I could roll around in them. Trumbo frees ordinary words from the
bondage into which most of us place them. He lines them up, takes aim and shoots
what can only be called a verbal symphony. Responding to a letter of chastisement after
he appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee 1947, he questions
whether the man's argument is with Trumbo himself or the English language in particular
and accuses his "friend" of being a political hermaphrodite - therefore no longer of any
interest to Trumbo.
Dalton Trumbo was part of the Hollywood Ten - writers who were blacklisted as a
result of their appearances before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Each
of them refused to answer questions regarding their knowledge of or participation in the
Communist Party. This is how the show begins, with Trumbo using his linguistic skills
to snare the Committee in their own noose. Although most lawyers would agree today
that the Fifth Amendment gave the writers the right to not answer questions, the
committee (and then the courts during appeals) did not agree. Each of them was sent to
jail.
Trumbo's son, Christopher, has edited his father's letters and originally appeared in this
production as narrator and guide. Gordon MacDonald who does a very good job is now
playing the part. As Trumbo, there has been a succession of actors - Tim Robbins,
Brian Dennehy, Nathan Lane etc. I chose to go see a writer - Gore Vidal. Although
Vidal is not a good actor, he is a good reader. And as these are letters - meant to be read
- I was pleased to be in the audience.
A letter to his daughter's school principal, who stood by as the child was ostracized for
being the daughter of the infamous Trumbo's, is of such crystal critique that you begin
to examine your own splotchy past. His letter sent from prison to Christopher is so
tender it nearly floats off on it's own. On the lighter side, when Christopher attends
Columbia, Trumbo sends him a letter on the subject of masturbation - a full blown and
very personal essay on it's merits and dangers. And, in response to a quote for installing
intercom in his house, Trumbo's stinging and hilarious letter to the company's owner
sounds like a reprimand from God.
I was full to the brim with history, language and reverence for a life that stayed standing
when the winds turned dark and fickle. Trumbo's allegiance to human rights, humor
and relentless argument is a political ammonia capsule. Stick it under your nose and
snap.
If you can't get there - look for "Additional Dialogue: The Letters of Dalton Trumbo"
edited by Helen Manfull.
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