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Truth or "Fiction" at Sedona's Canyon Moon Theatre

Sedona, AZ - What is truth? Canyon Moon Theatre’s next production, the brilliant Steven Dietz’s “Fiction,” plays with the notion of truth in fiction. That is, is there a point at which fiction, which is invented, can be judged as a truth or a lie? And what happens when novelists, whose trade is fiction, get so caught up in it that they invent important elements of their own lives?

“Fiction” centers around Linda (Zoe Yeoman) and Michael (Michael Levin), two married writers who face a crises when one of them is diagnosed with a brain tumor and given only a few weeks to live. Each has prolific private diaries of their lives, and these diaries soon become a catalyst of the drama.

Linda tells her husband that he can read her journals when she is gone. However, in return, she wants to read Michael's journals now, since she has a limited time to live. Michael is uncomfortable with her request but he finally gives in. We find out why the husband is uncomfortable, since his journals reveal his obsessive infatuation for many years with Abby (Laura Cooper), a young woman that he once met at a writer's colony. The relationship is played out before us as Linda reads the messy details.

This poignant exploration of relationships and truth looks at the vulnerabilities we all feel. The script turns the audience around several blind corners and you really don't know what is fact and what is fiction. This makes for vivacious theatre, even with a surprise ending.

“Fiction” marks the return of the talented Zoe Yeoman to Canyon Moon Theatre. At Canyon Moon she was last seen as Haley Walker in Theresa Rebecks’ “Bad Dates." Other roles include Lisa Kron in “Well,” Susy in Frederick Knott's “Wait Until Dark," Elvira in Noel Coward's “Blithe Spirit," Ruth Steiner in Donald Margulies’ “Collected Stories,” and Dr. Vivian Bearing in “Wit.”

Mike Levin has previously collaborated with founder Ms. Guaraldi in “Prelude to a Kiss" (Peter), “Sylvia” (Tom, Leslie, Phyllis), “The Drunkard" (Mr. Cribbs), the title role in “Charlie Cox Runs With Scissors" and, most recently, the title role in “The Importance of Being Ernest.” Other favorite roles include Joe Pitt in “Angels in America” (Eugene, OR), Jerry in “Zoo Story” (Portland, OR), and Dysart in Equus (Erie, PA). He has just completed writing his third play, I'm Not Michael.

The cast also features the Sedona debut of Laura Cooper as Abby. A professional actress from Los Angeles, Cooper’s past roles include Babe in “Crimes of the Heart” and Jill in “Butterflies are Free.”

“Fiction” opens on Thursday January 24. It will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings with a Sunday Matinee through February 10, there will be no matinee on February 3rd. For more information about the current season go to www.canyonmoontheatre.org. Tickets are available online or can be Rycus Corners, Clothing reflections or by calling Brown bag tickets at 1-800-838-8006.


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