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Akron production offers soul-baring performances
By Kerry Clawson
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Monday, Dec 01, 2008
The Bang and the Clatter Theatre has landed in Akron again, nestled in a former warehouse just north of Mocha Maiden downtown for at least two shows.
The avant-garde theater, run by Sean McConaha and Sean Derry, had been without an Akron home since last spring, producing at the University of Akron during the summer and continuing to create shows at its newer home in the Gateway district of Cleveland. BNC formerly was housed at Summit Artspace in downtown Akron.
The theater's current offering is Neil LaBute's In a Dark, Dark House, which brings the words ''relationship drama'' to a whole new level. In this story by the searing LaBute, animosity and distrust dominate the complicated relationship between brothers Terry (Derry) and Drew (Stephen Skiles), who share an ugly childhood.
This tale's mystery unfolds bit by bit as nearly every word spoken between brothers serves as a clue to their painful past. Much of what's unspoken is telling, too, especially through Derry's disturbed demeanor as his character tries to process the agonizing flashbacks his brother talks about.
If you think like I did at one point that this story's resolution will be predictable, think again. LaBute's writing is so precisely knit, we are constantly questioning the brothers' motives.
In this psychological drama, the lead actors hold us in suspense for a good two hours, as just the two of them talk on a nearly bare stage. LaBute's realistic dialogue as well as Derry and Skiles' masterful performances hold us spellbound.
Who's telling the truth and who's not? The dynamics of the story seem to be ever-shifting.
LaBute is a master at forcing audiences to confront the ugliest sides of our nature through his vividly drawn characters. Just about all of them are driven by self-interest. BNC has previously produced LaBute's Some Girls, in which a man works to sabotage a seemingly happy engagement, and has confronted topics of racism and lookism with LaBute's This Is How it Goes and Fat Pig.
The distressing theme of In a Dark, Dark House is the perpetuating cycle of child abuse. That stems from the damaged brothers' experiences long ago with a golden-haired college boy, Todd, who befriended their family.
Decades later, a scene between Terry and not-so-innocent teenager Jennifer (Toni Clair) is downright creepy, sending the whole story into a tailspin.
The play's conclusion is open-ended. Terry had seemed like a sympathetic character through much of the show, but now we're uncomfortably unsure. Is this broken individual ultimately an upright man or is he depraved?
That's open to interpretation, but in the process, Derry delivers a soul-baring role.
Developer Tony Troppe, who owns BNC's new building as well as Mocha Maiden, is furthering his mission of helping Akron to become a destination cultural center by housing a young, cutting-edge theater in the Maiden Lane arts and entertainment pocket. The theater, though its address is on North High Street, is accessible through Maiden Lane.
The theater's first-floor space is more convenient for patrons than BNC's previous Summit Artspace home, where the ticket table and bathrooms were downstairs and the theater was in the middle of a cavernous, unfinished second floor.
At BNC's new home, an outer sitting area/gallery looks inviting but is not yet heated. Large, vibrant portraits by artist Todd V of Stow create a funky atmosphere, alongside a wall of mirrors where a belly dance studio formerly was housed. The theater space inside, accented by a burnt-orange wall, is well-heated.
Derry said BNC is interested in remaining in the space long term if the theater is able to make additional renovations that include knocking down a wall to create more flexibility with its small stage area. The space is now configured to seat about 60. He also said ambient sound is a problem when live bands are playing at Musica, housed across the alley at Mocha Maiden.
Because BNC was delayed in opening its new Akron home, the last show of Akron's 2008 subscription season, which has yet to be announced, will be offered in January at the new space.
The contemporary LaBute is an obvious favorite for BNC, which will produce two more of his shows next year. They are the drama Wrecks in April in Akron and the dark comedy Reasons to Be Pretty in May in Cleveland.
Beacon Journal staff writer Kerry Clawson can be reached at 330-996-3527 or by e-mail atkclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.
The Bang and the Clatter Theatre has landed in Akron again, nestled in a former warehouse just north of Mocha Maiden downtown for at least two shows.
Get the full article here.
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