"Would" at The New York International Fringe Festival
“Would” Written by David Marx Directed by Molly Lyons Reviewed by Joseph Verlezza Theatre Reviews Limited
A new play entitled “Would” is based on the story of Barry Loukaikis, the fourteen year old who entered a classroom, killing two students and his algebra teacher, and was then given two life sentences with no possible parole. David Marx’s play is being presented at the New Ohio Theater as part of the New York International Fringe Festival. The premise of the play is the series of visitations by a psychologist conducting interviews with Daniel as a requirement for writing his dissertation for his PhD. These sessions become a double edged sword as each questions the other searching for meaningful clues, bringing revelations of their own existence to the surface. The concept of Daniel imagining what his life “would” be like through letters exchanged with a female pen pal is engaging. All the actors do a fine job depicting well defined characters. Jeremy Kahn is curious, dubious and infectious as Daniel and slowly reveals the depth of this prisoner. Dan Wilson is inquisitive, academic and caring as Bryan the psychologist. Amanda Lipinski portrays the perfect vision of the pen pal Alexa with charm, insight and intelligence never being entrapped by stereotype.
The staging is interesting, always keeping Alexa partially visible in her own space ( possibly always in the back of Daniel’s mind) and only entering the playing area when the letters are read and the fantasy enacted. The pace and timing are a bit slow, which as a constructive note, could be avoided if when the letters are being discussed Bryan remains on stage viewing the fantasy as told to him, if in fact the psychologist is actually real. This is where this critic’s mind was anointed with all possibilities, none of which are better than the other, all being valid. This reinforces that this is indeed a well crafted piece of theater if the author intended for the audience to draw their own conclusion and if not, it does not depreciate the integrity of the play.
The letters never physically appear so Bryan questions the reality of an actual pen pal communication. Then the letters stop as Daniel and Alexa’s imaginary child is about to turn fourteen, the same age as Daniel when he committed his crime. The psychologist suggests writing about something else, possibly these interviews, which would not be a bad idea since Daniel lives vicariously through the questions he asks Bryan about his personal life. This play opens with Daniel alone in his cell; during the intermission he stays on stage in his cell with Alexa visible in her own space; at the end of the play he is once again found alone in his cell with his journals. This critic began to wonder if the only way to end one story was to create another in order to survive. This option manifested only because Bryan always left the stage when the fantasy was being explained to him. Who was real and what was merely written in a journal became a valid question.
Once again, whatever the intention, this is a solid, provocative work which possibly might need some fine tuning but worthy of a future.
WOULD
Presented by Broken Ant Farm Productions and the New York International Fringe Festival. Written by David Marx; Directed by Molly Lyons; Produced by Chelsea Adams; Lighting by Jeff Glass.
WITH: Jeremy Kahn as Daniel, Dan Wilson as Bryan and Amanda Lipinski as Alexa. All performances take place at The New Ohio Theatre, 154 Christopher Street in New York, NY. Tickets are available at www.fringenyc.org or 866-468-7619. $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Senior and Fringe Junior tickets available at the door for $10. Running time: 1 hour 45 minutes with one ten-minute intermission. For more information visit www.brokenantfarm.com
Remaining Show Date: Saturday, August 25th @ 2:30 pm
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Saturday, August 25, 2012
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