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A CurtainUp Review
The Complete & Condensed Stage Directions of Eugene O'Neill, Volume 1: Early Plays/Lost Plays
By Andrew Ash
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. . .. he continues with impressive slowness. He rises from his chair and gets ready to crush her with the weight of his eloquence. --Narrator (dutifully conveying O'Neill's stage direction) |
C. Francis, L. Sharpe, E. Livingston, B. Donaldson, D. Burnam, C. Kalista and Jacquelyn Landgraf
(Photo: Anton Nickeleight) |
With a kind of perverse genius, Christopher Loar decided that it didn't have to be that way. In this production, he's adapted O'Neill's early plays by cutting out everything but the stage directions, which are read in their full, unabridged glory by an onstage narrator. A brave ensemble of actors throws itself at the absurd challenge of bringing them to life. Hilarity ensues.
It's a smart concept, and it works well. Although the primary tone of the show is slapstick, it occasionally veers off in surreal and dark directions that bring it closer to the realm of performance art. This variety is actually welcome as a counterpoint to the cheerful absurdity that surrounds it. It's an entertaining mash-up of O'Neill's gruesome social realism and innocent high camp.
The show does have a few rough edges, most of which are probably due to a fast rehearsal process. Actors occasionally fail to perform a stage direction, and noisy props seem to be perpetually crashing to the floor offstage. These flaws are minor, but they do detract from the performance, which is at its best when it is cleanest and most precise.
Overall, however, Complete and Condensed is a triumphant success. The actors tear into the meat of these stage directions with great relish, and they're clearly enjoying themselves. Connor Kalista is especially good at genuinely trying to achieve the impossible, even from his opening moment: "His hair is turning gray and his face is the face of one who has wandered far, lived hard, seen life in the rough and is a little weary of it all." The specificity of his body language, and his extraordinarily expressive face, are a small, joyful revelation. And there are three minutes, very close to the end, that are incredibly gutsy, and brilliantly comedic. I won't tell you what they are, so you'll have to see it for yourself. Because you should. It's a lot of fun.
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The Complete & Condensed Stage Directions of Eugene O'Neill, Volume 1: Early Plays/Lost Plays Text by Eugene O'Neill Adapted and directed by Christopher Loar with Daniel Burnam, Brendan Donaldson, Cara Francis, Connor Kalista, Jacquelyn Landgraf, Erica Livingston and Lauren Sharpe Set and Prop Design: Cara Francis Lighting Design: Christine Cullen Sound Design: Christopher Loar Running Time: 1 hours, 35 minutes with no intermission A production of New York Neo-Futurists Kraine Theatre, 85 East 4th Street (2nd Av/Bowery) 866-811-4111 Opening September 12, 2011, closing October 1, 2011 Reviewed by Andrew Ash based on a 9/10/11 performance |
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