The Debate over Courtney O’Connell of Columbus, Nebraska
The Morgan Morality Act of 1894 may or may not exist according to playwright Mat Smart, so plucky theatergoers will just have to do their own research into the "law" behind the new Chalk Repertory Theatre play The Debate Over Courtney O’Connell of Columbus, Nebraska.
Set in two acts, the first act takes place in present-day Columbus, Nebraska where Scooner (Jeff Galfer) challenges his ex-girlfriend’s fiancee, James (Larry Herron), to a public debate over who should win the hand of Courtney O’Connell (Amy Ellengerger), invoking the Morgan Morality Act.
Courtney O’Connell, the subject of the debate, dated Scooner since they were teenagers and post-breakup got engaged two months later to James. Set up like a political debate, Thomas (Feodor Chin), a friend of Scooner, acts as the debate moderator asking questions like "Why are you the best man for Courtney?" and "How will you take care of her financially?"
Each candidate has 90 seconds to answer with a chance for rebuttal. Half-way through the play, the audience gets a chance to vote - it is a debate after all and choose who they think Courtney should end up with.
Act Two is the tale behind the Morgan Morality Act of 1894, which is said to be the bloodiest time in all of Columbus, Nebraska’s history (if you believe playwright Mat Smart).
As the story goes, Amos Morgan, a jealous lover, kills 17 people after discovering his betrothed is in love with another man. With guns ablazing, Amos (Amy Ellengerger) sets about killing everyone associated with his former lover.
After the senseless bloodshed, the local sheriff writes up a law that allows the first gentleman to woo a lady to confront the second man in a public forum, using words rather than guns to settle the debate.
While the second act may sound stuffy and formal, it’s actually a romp of gender reversal, silent comedic fights, and air guitar playing. James and Scooner from act one dress in drag and play the females while Amy Ellengerger comes out with a thick moustache and toting two guns as killer Amos Morgan. Quick costume changes and flashlights used as spotlights adds to the effect of a silent movie slash Charlie Chaplin type comedy.
Act One is pure hilarity, making a solid case for all ex-lovers to challenge their mates to public debate.
New love looks sweet (the exhilaration of new love is shown as stargazing) while old love reveals the negatives of knowing someone for too long.
The cast works double-time to make every moment genuine and humorous. Director Jennifer Chang does an excellent job of heightening the debate moment by moment with looks, stomps, lovey dovey kisses, even bursts of song. The playfulness of The Debate Over Courtney O’Connell is ever present and steady.
In Act Two, it slightly gets out of hand and turns itself more into a Saturday Night Live sketch, but a Weezer song sing-along saves the day.
The Debate Over Courtney O’Connell is presented at Cafe Metropol, a charming restaurant with a full bar and menu. With musical performances before the show and during intermission and eating and drinking during the show encouraged, Chalk Repertory Theatre, founded in fall 2008, makes a wonderful evening of theatre.
Theater Info:
Chalk Rep at Cafe Metropol, 923 East 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90013, Running time: 90 minutes with one ten-minute intermission. Through August 24th. Sunday & Monday at 8 p.m. Musical performances starting at 7:30 p.m. $15. Tickets available: 1-800-838-3006 or online at BrownPaperTickets.com. More information: www.chalkrep.com
