Coachella Valley Repertory explores complex father-daughter relationships in 'Fun Home'

Why did my life turn out the way that it did? What does it mean to see your parents through adult eyes?

These questions are at the heart of "Fun Home," the Tony Award-winning musical coming to life on the Coachella Valley Repertory stage from Dec. 6 to 18.

The winner of five Tony awards — including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score — "Fun Home" was adapted from the 2006 graphic memoir by author and cartoonist Alison Bechdel. It tells the true story of Bechdel’s complex relationship with her closeted father and her own journey toward self-acceptance.

Three actresses, one journey

With a book and lyrics by Lisa Kron and music by Jeanine Tesori, "Fun Home" follows Alison — portrayed by three actresses — during three periods of her life through storytelling that moves around in time.

Broadway veteran Kristen Howe portrays Alison as an adult, struggling to understand her past as she writes a memoir. Keeley Karsten is Small Alison, navigating her relationship with her father as she begins to understand her sexuality. Cecily Dowd is Medium Alison, falling in love for the first time and coming out.

"Casting Alison is challenging because you're casting an actor to portray a character in a specific age group," said director Adam Karsten.

"You have a young Alison, a medium Alison, and an older Alison," he said. "And yes, they have similarities. But for me, it was really about who was going to be able to portray that character and that character's vulnerability at that age."

Victor Wallace, who plays Alison's father, agrees.

"They are spectacular," he said. "I'm really excited for people to see them. You see this person — this same character — at different points in their life. They're going to be great."

Secrets and struggles

The musical is also the story of Alison's father, Bruce, who is the director of a funeral home, which the family instead refers to as a "fun home."

"He is a man who wears a lot of different hats," said Wallace. "He's a father. He's a high school English teacher in a small town. He also has a real love for historic restoration of old homes, bringing them back to their original glory."

And, significantly, Bruce Bechdel spent his life struggling with a secret.

"Underneath all those roles, he's a closeted homosexual trying to live this perceived life in a time when he wasn't allowed to be who he probably should have been," said Wallace.

And that, said Wallace, leads to resentment that Bruce may not fully understand.

"When someone is keeping a secret, I think that suppressing that secret can be a very challenging and damaging thing for yourself as well as your relationships with the people around you," he said.

He added, "A lot of it, I think, is written to be Alison's perception of her father and trying to understand. Why does he act out that way? Why does he treat me that way?"

He believes that Bruce tried to be a good father.

"He wanted to play that role," said Wallace. "I certainly don't think he was resentful for being a father. I think he did enjoy it. I guess that's his struggle of trying to be the best that he can under the circumstances."

He added: "I think Bruce is somebody who was really concerned about appearances. Even his interest in the restoration of homes is almost symbolic of his life of everything being neatly placed, but life just isn't like that. Ultimately, we don't really have that kind of control over our lives."

For Victor Wallace, the theme of parents and children and loss has fresh meaning. His father died just over three months ago.

"My father was nothing like Bruce," he said. "But it's those themes of being an adult myself now. I'm 49 and thinking about what my dad did in his role of being a dad to me."

He added: "Your parents are human. They've made choices and mistakes. And it's so interesting how it makes you examine — or have an appreciation for — somebody's life and what they tried to do for you. Raising you."

'A new take on writing musicals'

Musical Director Michael Reno has been a producer, director, music director, arranger and orchestrator for more than 150 stage productions, not to mention his experience in film and events.

This is his first production of "Fun Home."

The more time he's spent with the score, the more he's discovered "how textured and rich it is."

"There's so many of what seem to be difficult meter changes and key changes and overlapping vocal lines," Reno said. "I realized they're all there for a purpose. Nothing is arbitrary. It's a new take on writing musicals."

He added: "I'm really trying to honor what the composer and the lyricist saw in this piece, which is why I'm delving into it and studying it practically note by note, to try and figure out what it was they were trying to communicate. I want to honor their vision as closely as I can."

Reno also noted: "Music causes a response in every body. That's why it's used in therapy. And I think the end of this show, with the three Alisons singing together, is practically transcendent. I hope the audiences can feel that sense of something that's more than life. Music touches that other place. It tugs at our heartstrings."

Fathers and daughters

The theme of fathers and daughters has special meaning in this production. Adam Karsten's 12-year-old daughter, Keeley, is playing Small Alison. She is also featured in Steven Spielberg's new film, "The Fablemans."

"What stands out most to me is how much I learn from Keeley and continue to do so daily," Adam Karsten said.  "As parents, we feel we have to always do the teaching and instructing or even directing in this case.  But, if I'm open, I have found I can learn as much from her. She has amazing courage and creativity."

He added: "I'm incredibly grateful to have such an opportunity to create memories like these with Keeley."

Keeley Karsten is also grateful for the opportunity.

"This story — and Alison’s relationship with her father — shows me how lucky I am to have such a great relationship with my Dad, and the fact that he understands, or at least always tries to, understand me," she said.

When asked what she is learning about her father from this experience — both as a father and as her director — she said "He is clear with what he is looking for, but also still gives you room to play and find. I think he really cares and has a great imagination. I think we are bonding really nicely from working together."

And, on a lighter note, she added: "He buys me nice treats for lunch."

Family, love and hope

Adam Karsten believes that the themes of "Fun Home" will resonate across generations.

"It is a show that presents family, love, and a really bright horizon for the next generation, and even our generation," he said. "And, when I say our generation, I mean an older generation that did not – and is not – growing up with some of the understandings of the world today and how it's changing and growing and evolving and progressing.

"When you get to the end of the show, and you hear the simplicity of the understanding of young Alison, as the older Alison looks back, it's a beautiful moment. That's why I feel the show presents a lot of hope."

If you go

What: Coachella Valley Repertory's "Fun Home"

When: Dec. 6-18

Where: CVRep, 68-510 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City

Cost: $58-$73

Learn more: cvrep.org

Barbara Kerr is a freelance communication specialist with a passion for writing about people, the arts and special events. Inducted into the Dayton (Ohio) Area Broadcasters Hall of Fame, she is a past chair of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) College of Fellows.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: CVRep's 'Fun Home' brings Alison Bechdel's graphic novel to life