The Triangle Factory Fire Project Makes for Fresh, Bracing Theater
The Triangle Factory Fire Project
American Theatre Web
May 15, 2005
On its own, Christopher Piehler?s The Triangle Factory Fire Project would be a potent retelling of the events of March 25, 1911, when a fire at the Triangle Shirt Waist Factory consumed three floors of a building in what is now SoHo, killing over 140 people (mostly young girls who worked at the factory). With the accusations and explanations heard at the 9/11 Commission?s public hearings ringing in New Yorkers? ears, this recently opened production from Actors Company Theatre delivers a true emotional punch to its audiences as the parallels between the two tragedies are seen.
Piehler?s play, which has been conceived and directed by Scott Alan Evans, unfolds in the manner of Moises Kaufmann?s The Laramie Project, with a company of nine actors assuming multiple roles of people involved in the events of that fatal day. Dressed in David Toser?s handsome period costumes, they become the factory workers, management and public officials, changing between personae with a quick addition or subtraction of a shawl or hat and often, a new accent.
As background, the characters give the audience a brief overview of the strained relationship between the workers and the company and the strike demanding higher wages and safer working conditions that preceded the fire. In short order, though, one has been taken to the end of the fatal March workday. One shop girl talks about her upcoming engagement. Another worker describes how she had been saving for a fur muff. It?s all terribly hopeful, strangely commonplace.
Soon, the fire has begun and, one begins to hear of the events that took place on the three floors of the building. Here, director Evans creates his most potent stage images. On Mimi Lien?s set, which nicely indicates the facade of the factory and the windows from which so many jumped, there are two long work tables that are situated so that the stage is divided into thirds, each third representing one floor of the factory. As characters manage to escape and fatalities mount, Piehler empties each third of the stage until there is just one person is left. For the characters watching outside, they are seen on one side of the stage, looking out and up hopelessly. It?s painful, particularly, given one?s memories of the events two Septembers back.
The second act of "Triangle" covers the trial that followed the fire. Here, Piehler?s drama is less compelling, with long stretches of testimony, lawyers? posturing and witness-badgering and short term revisionist history colliding. What is interesting, about the play?s second act (at least for this theatergoer) is to hear how little has changed in nearly one hundred years. Even as people seek to heal from tragedy, blame must be placed and guilt reflected.
Director Evans has elicited gorgeously detailed performances from all of the actors. Some of the characterizations that stand out include Nora Chester?s pompous portrayal of socialite Mrs. O.H.P. Belmont who attempted to turn the workers? death into a referendum on womens? rights; Rachel Fowler?s touching and fierce portrayal of Margaret Schwartz, one of the girls who died and the victim whose fate was used as the mechanism for bringing the factory?s owners to trial; and Timothy McCracken, who shines as one of these owners, AFL leader Samuel Gompers and Edward Crocker, then chief of New York?s Fire Department.
It's difficult to watch as McCracken's boss, Max Blanck, sits arrogantly center stage and denies any culpability in the deaths that resulted from the fire. The moment comes as something of a catharsis , though. Somehow one feels less alone in the remaining grief, confusion and anger about a more recent tragic event.
The Triangle Factory Fire Project continues through May 29 at the Clurman Theatre in Theatre Row (410 West 42 Street). Remaining performances are May 23, 24, 26, 27, 28 and 29 at 8pm. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 212-239-6200. Further information is available online at www.TACTnyc.org.