[NEohioPAL]Berko review: SLEEP DEPRIVATION CHAMBER (Cleveland Public Theatre)

[Roy Berko]

Purposeful, but poorly written SLEEP DEPRIVATION
CHAMBER at CPT

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	

Racial profiling, using race as a primary determinant
in the characterization of a person considered likely
to commit a particular type of crime, is alive in the
United States.  Whether for traffic stops, following
certain people in grocery or department stores, or
checking and rechecking individuals in airports, the
practice is carried on. It affects African Americans,
Arabs and all others who those in-charge might
consider to be of “questionable character.”

Adrienne and Adam Kennedy’s ‘SLEEP DEPRIVATION
CHAMBER,’ now on stage at Cleveland Public Theatre,
highlights an authentic case in which a Black college
student (in real life, Adam Kennedy) is pulled over
for having a non-functioning rear taillight on his
car, and is beaten by the arresting officer. 
Eventually, after a period of excruciating experiences
which affect not only the young man, but his entire
family, the charges are dismissed by a judge after
hearing the “facts” of the case.

While well-meaning, the Kennedy’s script is not well
written.  It is often redundant and adds much material
that elongates the experience with little pay-off. 
The flash-forward and flash-back format causes
confusion. This story would make an effective
15-minute one act, but should not have been crafted as
a 90-minute presentation.  

Besides the script problems, the production gets lost
in the large Gordon Square Theatre.  This is an
intimate piece which would have been much more
appropriate for CPT’s smaller Levin Theatre space.

Clevelanders will find themselves familiar with many
of the play’s references.  Local streets and comments
about the Indians and Bob Feller pepper the dialogue. 
But after a while, even that loses its effect.

Director Caroline Jackson Smith does an acceptable job
of staging. She uses all parts of the facility...the
main stage and the overhanging loges for settings for
the scenes.  She has not, however, honed the skills of
some of her actors.  Some of the performances are
excellent, others quite poor.

Lisa Langford is effective as the narrator and mother
of Teddy Alexander, the young man accused of the
“crime.”  At times, however, she is difficult to hear
in the vastness of the auditorium.  

Daniel H. Taylor, is excellent as Teddy, the falsely
accused son.  He is very natural and is believable in
his role development.  

Stuart Hoffman is a cast highlight as the Caucasian
officer who shows disdain and lacks remorse for his
actions.  Derek Koger portrays Teddy’s lawyer with
accuracy.

On the other hand, Yolanda Wilson (lawyer) and Dolores
Boda (the Assistant DA) lack meaning in their line
presentations.

Capsule judgment:  ‘SLEEP DEPRIVATION CHAMBER’ sends
an important message regarding racial profiling. 
Unfortunately, the script is not well conceived, and
the presentation not convincing, which leads to an
overly long performance experience.

‘SLEEP DEPRIVATION CHAMBER’ runs through  January 27
at Cleveland Public Theatre.  For tickets call
216-631-2727.


Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2006, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info
      
Roy's theatre and dance reviews appear regularly on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.  His dance reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com


 
____________________________________________________________________________________
Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate 
in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A.
http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396545367