Sweet Storm by Scott Hudson -- Interesting: A young preacher carries his bride up into a treehouse he has built for their honeymoon. She's crippled (perhaps from polio) and might have a touch of asthma. Not interesting: their basically boring, inane verbal ramblings. These are primitive, uneducated people: he's a moron with religious underpinnings, and she's a hysteric. It is performed well, especially by Jamie Dunn whose emotions are just beneath the surface, and she is adept at dipping into a wide range of them convincingly. Eric T. Miller does quite well as the as the fool who would subject the woman to this idiocy. It's all well directed by Padraic Lillis on Lea Umberger's set which seems just a bit too much like an ordinary bedroom -- I could have used a bit more tree intruding besides the very fine huge trunk. Lighting by Sarah Sidman illuminates the area, but does not create the mood and shadows that would enhance the supposed location. If the writer wanted to propose a philosophic concept in the play, perhaps dealing with adversity by pursuing the romantic idea despite its discomforts, I think it escapes me.
Previews:
June 11, 2009
Opened:
August 16, 2009
Country:
USA
State:
New York
City:
New York
Company/Producers:
Alchemy Theater Company in assoc w/ LAByrinth Theater Company
Theater Type:
off-Broadway
Theater:
Kirk Theater
Theater Address:
410 West 42nd Street
Running Time:
90 min
Genre:
Drama
Director:
Padraic Lillis
Review:
Cast:
Jamie Dunn, Eric T. Miler
Technical:
Lighting: Sarah Sidman; Set: Lea Umberger
Critic:
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed:
July 2009
