The crowd’s perspective of the play shifts to the unfamiliar when the man coyly bends over to reveal his skimpy thong. Don’t get your hopes up; the near-nudity ends there.
The Iowa Stage Theatre Company recently presented Bess Whol’s Grand Horizons at the Stoner Theater in the Des Moines Civic Center from March 14 to March 23, 2025. The play is supposedly a comedy about the sudden divorce of an elderly couple, and it is funny — but to label the play as a comedy short-sells the complexities that the play highlights. The production’s outrageous use of dirty jokes and quick wit add a lighthearted veil over the complex themes the story explore, such as identity, growing old and the intricacies of long-term relationships.
The play opens with Nancy (Barbara Martin) and her husband of 50 years, Bill (Wayne Kischer), preparing for dinner. Like clockwork, the couple sets up the table, toggling silently with the centerpiece as the other leaves the room, both relentlessly readjusting the other’s handiwork. Finally, they sit down, simultaneously shaking out their napkins and placing them in their laps. As Bill begins to cut up his food, Nancy breaks the silence: “I want a divorce.” Bill barely raises his gaze and says, “Alright.”
The divorce announcement ripples through the family, not only in their relationship but also in the lives of their two adult sons and other characters in the play. The sons arrive at their parents’ home to reiterate the importance of their 50-year marriage. But they are instead confronted with reassessing their understanding of their parents’ lives, as well as their own relationships.
The eldest son Ben (Benjamin Sheridan) and his pregnant wife Jess (Tiffany Flory-Haack) betray feelings of uncertainty and strain as Jess’s due date approaches, causing the family divorce to seem less daunting. Brian (Marvis Tallman), the second son, is shaken to learn truths about his mother’s past and realize that his and his brother’s childhoods were not as he remembers.
The play ends with Nancy and Bill holding each other’s hands — it’s not a love story, nor a happy ending. It shows the commitment and attachment that occurs over time; not quite love, but maybe something else.
One of the key elements of Grand Horizons is its blend of humor and raw emotions. The characters’ journeys are funny and heartbreaking as they reflect on their changing lives and relationships. The play offers a fresh perspective on older age, rejecting stereotypes for more fully-realized characters, each with their own desires, regrets and aspirations. It captures the tensions and possibilities that come with the later stages of life — a period in which people might be reconsidering their choices and seeking new meaning.
The performances of the actors of The Iowa Stage Theatre Company are another highlight of Grand Horizons. The cast brings a wonderful dynamic to the stage, with each actor skillfully balancing the humor and emotional weight of their roles. The portrayal of Nancy and Bill’s evolution is particularly poignant. After spending the last 50 years intertwined, the changes they experienced were unexpected, but not without reason. Bill was adamant about his stance on “riding it out,” as if the marriage were a bad storm that would settle or completely dissipate at some point. And Nancy never moved on from her high school sweetheart and what she describes as the best “head.” The play captures the complexity of love and disillusionment.
Iowa Stage Theatre’s Grand Horizons is an engaging and thought-provoking play. It’s a reminder that you can expect the unexpected in all stages of life, and that it’s never too late for a change or a new chapter. The blend of humor and emotional depth make it a memorable experience.
