'In the Worlds of Words and Wards'

By Darcie Flansburg
The Real Critics Editor/Publisher

It was obvious that a story about a woman’s last two hours of life before dying of cancer would be a tear jerker, but on top of a succinct and well written play, “Wit” director Tom Hurst had a strong cast for this Chino Community Theatre production.
Hurst’s first act of genius was casting Susan Bray as the lead role, Professor Vivian Bearing. In addition to being a phenomenal actress, Bray is also a cancer survivor, giving her performance even more authenticity. Bray, who is best known for her performances as Sister Mary Amnesia in “Nunsense” and “Nunsense II,” is also an aggressive actress who commands the stage with a keen presence. This style was very necessary for the no-nonsense Vivian Bearing.
Bray transitioned smoothly from flashbacks as a 17th century poetry professor to the banality and monotony of chemotherapy to the utter pain of her last few moments of life. And Hurst’s direction moved the rest of the ensemble fluidly around Bray, making the brief story very tight and smooth.
The character of Professor Bearing dominates the play, but the ensemble helps to illustrate Bearing’s story and create a little humor within the framework of a very poetical, yet rational, journey.
Spencer Mansouri played Dr. Jason Posner. Mansouri has really grown as an actor over the past few years and has become a truly unique comedic actor. The character of Posner didn’t have a real sense of humor, but what he represented within the medical industry was morbidly funny.
Allana Matheis played nurse Susie, one of the few characters that seemed to garner any kind of sympathy for Bearing and her gruff exterior. Susie wanted nothing but the best for her patients including Bearing and that was evident, particularly in her face and inflection of tone; heartfelt, but not overly sentimental. Matheis’ performance was sweet and sincere.
Usually a set designer, with plenty of ITL awards in tow, Hurst also designed the set for “Wit.” It was a truly functional set with a folding center wall that moved to reveal two locations, the interior of Bearing’s hospital room and an office, utilized by several characters as their own.
Hurst smartly used sound effects to create the illusion of the various pieces of equipment needed for the treatment, with just a few essential pieces in use on stage.
Chino Community Theatre’s one act of “Wit” was a clever revealing of one woman’s last moments before the unknown. Bray smartly portrayed Bearing through the proven final stages of life into the abyss of the afterlife where all that was left was silence and an enchanting white light.