Can any man, especially a
Southerner, be elected to the U.S. Senate if 1) He does not believe there’s a
God and 2) He believes in strict gun control? Perhaps an even stronger question
is 3) Can a man with deep and honest feelings ever survive in the political
jungle?
In this world premiere staging of his unequivocally bold play, author Jason
Odell Williams tackles this subject admirably. With a sensitive and bravura performance
by lead actor Rob Nagle, these significant questions are asked and, in a contemporary
way, fully answered.
Set backstage at an
important rally shortly before election day, we are witness to the dynamic
between a man fighting to save his soul; his manager battling to win the votes
by keeping her client’s instincts in check, and his indomitable wife seeing him
as her hero who someday might bring them both to the White House.
Under Elina de Santos faultless
direction, we are drawn into the lives and experience the conflicts between three
impassioned people. Nagle demonstrates the man’s ambiguity, while Tracie
Lockwood is right on as his headstrong wife, and Annika Marks shows a
professional who is able to avoid cynicism. Eddie Hong, in two small roles, brings
focus to the power of the modern outside world.
Produced by Gary Grossman,
with set by Jeff McLaughlin, lighting by Sohail E. Najafi, sound by Christopher
Moscatiello, video by Nicholas Santiago and costumes by Mylette Nora.
At Skylight Theatre, 1816 N.
Vermont Ave., LA. Reservations: 213-761-7061 or online at http://skylighttix.com
Photo by Ed Krieger
Also reviewed in the
August issue of NOT BORN YESTERDAY
No comments:
Post a Comment