The Complete & Condensed Stage Directions of Eugene O'Neill is a brilliant conception by its director Christopher Loar, beautifully carried out by a great ensemble cast, all members of the long-running New York Neo-Futurists. O'Neill did not trust actors and was notorious for his detailed stage directions (e.g., He throws himself into a chair; She covers her face with her hands.) Here, a narrator reads the directions, and the agile, super cast of three men and three women literally carry them out. They don't try to be funny -- just to fulfill the words, and are hilarious. Since no words of the play are spoken, we have no idea what each play is about, which makes the actions and a few sounds the actors make into a mime-filled performance at the highest level of physical expression and humor. It's totally tasteful, without any slapstick (which might have been a temptation), and the troupe clearly is trained, experienced (and attractive).
The plays are from O'Neill's early years - 1913 to 1917, and the group hopes to do his later plays in the future.
