A break from its normal programming, Covenant College’s theater department presented “It’s Not for Everyone,” on Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1. Written by Ray Lantrip and directed by Kara Start, “It’s Not for Everyone” is a play in one scene that examines the importance of an individual’s voice and work.
The play takes place in a bookstore, and the stage is set up for an author meet-and-greet: tables displaying books and snacks stand next to a stool placed in front of a microphone. The newly published book (“Penti on Culicine”) on display is written by Dr. Penti(played by Micah Cochran), a scholar of literary criticism.
In the opening of the play, Dr. Penti’s teaching assistant, Percy, (played by Lantrip), arrives at the bookstore early to finish setting up for the book reading. As the absent-minded and slightly socially awkward cashier(played by Sam Landreth) tries to help Percy set up chairs, Percy comes to understand why the event is being held in the back of the store: the cashier’s father, who owns the store, doesn’t believe anyone will come because the book is “stupid.” Throughout the rest of the play, the value of the book is questioned.
Characters further removed from the world of academia think the book is hoity-toity and irrelevant: the store-owner’s son doesn’t read, let alone know what literary criticism is. Stephanie(played by Stephanie Smole), a flirtatious photographer, has a one track mind: she’s here to catch any man willing to pay for her photoshoots. Not one to be called stupid, Stephanie claims that even if she could read Dr. Penti’s book, she “still wouldn’t care.”
From a completely different perspective, Dr. Lewistoni(played by Isabelle Torokwa), the leading scholar of Culicine, also calls the book trash. Feeling threatened by opposing scholarship, Dr. Leweski hopes that the book won’t gain traction and that no one will show up to the reading.
Even Dr. Penti doubts the worth of his own work. He wonders if no one shows up, then, just like a tree falling in a forest miles away, does his voice actually make a sound? In the midst of many other voices about literary criticism, let alone the world, does it matter what he has to say?
Percy is a grounding voice in the play. He consistently deflects the other characters’ criticisms, while affirming and supporting Dr. Penti’s dreams and ideas. When Dr. Penti claims, “No one cares what I think,” Percy says, “I do.” Percy argues that as long as one person appreciates Dr. Penti’s work, that is enough.
The comedic tone of the play is wonderfully awkward. The high-brow intellectual as well as the unread ignoramus are revealed to be equally immature and shallow. In petty protest to the book reading, Dr. Lewistoni shoves books off the table like a cat. After flirting with Percy, and considering Dr. Penti, Stephanie gets together with the store-owner’s son, who doesn’t read but loves to shamelessly perform slam poetry. Meanwhile, Dr. Penti, whose digestive system is continuously assaulted by the crab legs he ate earlier that day, is a passionate philosopher reduced to a stumbling-bumbling man missing one of his shoes.
Lantrip excellently portrays the absurdity of ordinary social interactions. Simultaneously, he shows the human desire to be known, heard and appreciated, which is still relevant in modern middle-class America.