by Maria Staiano-Daniels
Daily Lobo
AIDS is a subject that should constantly be in everybody's face, said director Kenneth Bennington.
This was the motive behind directing the play "Lonely Planet."
The play was presented as a benefit for New Mexico AIDS services. It describes how two friends, Jody (Dean Squibb) and Carl (Colin Jones), deal with the disease that devastates their community.
"AIDS is an on-and-off subject" that is "somewhat off now," Bennington said.
"Lonely Planet," set in Jody's map store, uses the language of maps to explore this denial.
Bennington explained that for Jody, AIDS is the "Greenland Problem." Pushed to the periphery of his thoughts, the issue becomes a huge, looming presence in his life.
Because he cannot face the terrible reality of AIDS, Jody barricades himself inside his map store.
"He has created a world for himself in his lonely little map shop that is very safe," he said.
Bennington said that for Jody, maps represent certainty and security, and Jody fears the unknown.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Carl tries to convince Jody to leave his store and get tested, to accept the danger and death that are a part of their world. Carl wants Jody to stop being trapped by fear and go live despite his pain, Jones said.
The relationship between Jody and Carl, both friendship and conflict, is the heart and soul of "Lonely Planet." The two men are the play's only characters, giving their interactions intensity.
Both Jones and Squibb said they appreciate the unique challenge of being part of a two-man cast.
Jones said he preferred being in a small group, because of the greater creative freedom available to him. Squibb called the situation a petri dish of concentrated effort.
As well as handling their own friendship, Jody and Carl must also come to terms with losing other friends to AIDS.
Carl disposes of his deceased friends' belongings, but he cannot stand to throw away their chairs, so he brings them to Jody's shop. Over the course of the play, more and more chairs accumulate, giving a
physical presence to all those absent friends.
Bennington has made a point of the symbolism of chairs. A chair decorates the play's poster, and Act 1 opens with a spotlight on a single, empty chair.
Carl is the caretaker of his community, and helps dispose of the belongings of his deceased friends. He also preserves the memories of their lives by taking on facets of their identities.
Bennington emphasized the importance of friendship to "Lonely Planet."
"I don't see it as an 'AIDS play'," he said. "I see it as a friendship play."
Actor Dean Squibb agreed.
"The ultimate conclusion is love," he said.
