A Bright New Boise by Samuel Hunter - Essay Example

College: A Bright New Boise “A Bright New Boise” is a captivating drama by playwright Samuel Hunter. The theatrical performance is directed by Tom Ross, who uses largely varying characters to build on the main themes of religious faith and platitude associated with corporate environments. The play’s main character is Will, a staunch believer in Christian dogma. He interprets each word in the Christian Bibles as the literal truth and, therefore, believes that there will be “rapture” and God will come to redeem His people while the non-believers will be left to suffer. The play’s title suggests that, Boise, which is the capital city of Idaho, is bound to be a renewed and better place after the rapture that Will anticipates. This title also draws one’s attention to this fundamentalist belief of a future utopia, where there will no longer be any form of suffering. The dramatist and the director of “A Bright New Boise” settled for a suitable time to show people’s yearning for a better life and shift toward religious beliefs in the event of problems. This is because; the modern American society is presently characterized by numerous difficulties, especially economically, forcing many to believe the possibility of intervention or redemption by a higher deity. Hunter’s play shows how people’s beliefs vary and how we all seek refuge in diverse ideas about life in order to cope with hardships and tedium of life. Discussion During the introduction of the play, one is able to learn that the title’s connection to Idaho is due to Hunter’s background as a resident of the state. This perhaps gives the dramatist adequate knowledge about beliefs of Christian fundamentalists. The play begins just as the main character, Will, is hired in a Hobby Lobby store that deals with crafts and other works of art. Will, a middle-aged man who seems soft-spoken in nature, has left his home following a scandal that implicated his fundamentalist church. He has come to the Hobby Lobby store not only to escape his past, but also to try and regain a connection with his adolescent son Alex. Will apparently gave up baby Alex to adoptive parents and wants to reconnect with him before the rapture takes place. Tom Ross includes other characters like Pauline, the store’s manager; Leroy, a worker and Alex’s brother, as well as, Anna, another worker, to build themes portrayed by the play. The play, which adopts a comic, yet somewhat dark nature, gives insight into family, religious faith, as well as, the significance of establishing connections with others. The play is set in the break room of a Hobby Lobby store. The room is painted with dull colors, like a dull shade of blue for the door and gray for the floors, lockers and walls. The tables are white with grayish supports, while the chairs are brown with legs similar to the tables. The hard edges of the rectangular door and window further accentuate the stereotype of discomfort and unaccommodating nature of modern corporate workplaces. This stereotype is also fostered by the harsh instructions and commands unleashed by the store’s manager. Ross also manages to incorporate other features of a contemporary workplace like employees’ lockers and a working coffee maker. Further, the employees wear blue vests and badges on their chests, to signify their affiliation to the store. These elements emphasize the mundane or routinely nature of work, in America’s blue collar job environment. The break room at the Hobby Lobby is also lit by fluorescent lights that produce a harsh and irritating light. The television in the room does not play its purpose of relaxing the employees because of its white light and equally irritating noise. On the other side of the stage is an empty highway with big streetlights. As the play progresses, the audience hears loud traffic noises characteristic of a highway during late hours of the night. These features further emphasize the uncomfortable nature of the work environment and the long hours they have to work, in order to earn a living. Pauline, the store manager who is mainly focused on making profits and commanding the workers around, appears to fit the modern description of modern managers. She has no regard for the workers’ beliefs and even goes to the extent of stating that nobody cares about what other people believe. This draws attention to the way that many people find religious beliefs repugnant, yet just like religious believers they are all seeking structure that would enable them live positively. For instance, although Pauline is adamant that the workers should be content with their wage and avoid labor unions, she is a strong believer in corporate rules. In contrast, Will upholds the belief that none of the union benefits matter, since God is bound to come back and take the believers with Him. Anna is also a church adherent, but she goes to the Lutheran church, which she views as a well organized community. On the other hand, Alex and Leroy believe that their lives would be better if they got jobs in bigger recognized stores or if they acquired degrees from the local university. These beliefs may vary, but they all show human desire for structure and a better life. It appears as though Hobby Lobby is the characters’ world, given the fact that the play revolves around them spending all their time in the store. For example, Anna spends her time reading, while Will contemplates on the coming of the messiah. When Anna makes an effort to become Will’s friend by inviting him to her church, he refuses claiming that the church does not strictly follow God’s word. This places extra emphasis on the protagonist’s strong belief that his is the only way that guarantees a good life. Even though his church is no longer functional, Will still maintains the idea that the rapture will take place. This is evident at the beginning and end of the play, when he raises his hands and calls to God to come “Now!” Will’s lamentations appear urgent and they prompt one to think about the urgency, with which everyone wishes they could be delivered from daily sufferings. As the play nears the end, Will bluntly tells Alex that he is his father. The suicidal teenager attempts to interact with his father, driven by the desire to understand why Will gave him up. During other times, Alex is distant, complaining that he expected his father to be more than just a Hobby Lobby worker. Although the audience does not learn much about Will, it is evident that he yearns for a familial connection, which Alex already has with his adopted brother, Leroy. The latter is protective of Alex despite his rough demeanor and tendency to wear tee shirts with insults that appear to challenge readers to avoid being self-righteous and ignorant of other people. Conclusion Overall, Hunter and Ross successfully draw one’s attention to the themes of faith, corporate tedium and familial connection. The playwright’s comparison of faith and the corporate world makes it appear as though modern blue-collar workers need salvation from unfair corporate practices that rise from widespread capitalism. I enjoyed the play and could relate with the director’s idea that, despite our numerous differences, we all desire connection to others and attainment of a better life. I also acknowledge the message that we should all strive to understand and respect other people’s beliefs, since we are all seeking some form of structure to guide our way of life. Work Cited Hunter, Samuel. A Bright New Boise. 2013. 4 December 2013. Read More