By Munira Alimire
Arts and Entertainment Editor
Munira.Alimire1651@mb.rctc.edu
To close out the 2017-2018 season, the RCTC theatre presented ìLeaving Iowa,î an uplifting and humorous rendition of Tim Clueís and Spike Mantonís play.†
It tells the story of middle-aged Boston columnist, Don Browning, who comes home to Iowa to visit his family. His widowed mother discovers a jug containing her husbandís ashes, and Don sets out to take his fatherís ashes to his childhood home.
Upon reaching his grandmotherís home, he discovers that it has been turned into a grocery store and begins traveling across Iowa, searching for a better place. The trip shifts, perhaps, a little jerkily, from the present to his memories of the family vacations from his childhood. In the process, he rediscovers how much he loves his father.
The play delivers good laughs but tends to get a bit formulaic at times, which could have been remedied with a shorter run time. Itís filled with enough kooky exchanges and memorable lines to carry it throughout. It harkens to memories of audience membersí own family vacations with the familiar frustration and love thrumming throughout the play.
The show opened on April 19 and ran two weekends, ending with a matinee on April 28. It was well attended by RCTC students and staff as well as community members.
Directed by Jerry Casper, this play is at its strongest with the touching moments of tranquility in the car rides, as well as the raucous moments that punctuate most scenes.