[NEohioPAL]Berko review: RED LIGHT WINTER (Bang and Clatter)

[Roy Berko]

Disturbing, unnerving ‘RED LIGHT WINTER’ at BANG AND
CLATTER

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

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

Akron’s off-off Broadway theatre, THE BANG AND THE
CLATTER, is presenting Adam Rapp’s controversial play,
‘RED LIGHT WINTER.’  This show is not for the feint of
heart.  It’s not for those who can’t tolerate
full-frontal nudity, gross language, depiction of
graphic sex, or don’t like to have their senses
assaulted.  

To be honest, I don't like the script, but I can't and
won't deny that the raw smells, tastes and visions got
into my senses and won’t get out.   I don’t like the
people. I don’t like what they represent. I don’t like
that they can’t and or won’t save themselves from
their destructive paths.  Yet, I can’t get them out of
my mind.

The name Adam Rapp may sound familiar, even if you
aren’t a theatre person.  A novelist, film maker and
playwright, his book ‘THE BUFFALO TREE’ was brought to
national attention when it was censored by the
Muhlenberg School Board in Reading, Pennsylvania for
its language and subject matter.

Rapp uses graphic language, sexual content and themes
that are repulsive to some.   Personally, I’m not
shocked or turned off by his language or subject
matter.  But I am turned off by his style.  I just
think he writes speeches which don’t sound like they
would be spoken by a normal person, writes characters
that are overdrawn, and puts shock before substance. 
I find that he throws in gimmicks to move along the
plot that often make no sense. 

‘RED LIGHT WINTER’ begins in a small bedroom in a
hostel in Amsterdam, where nerdy, unsuccessful
playwright Matt attempts to kill himself.  Right after
his half hearted attempt fails, his traveling mate
Davis turns up. The two are friends from college and
are vacationing together in Europe. Davis has a
present for Matt—a prostitute named Christina.

Christina appears to be French but, as Matt deduces,
is actually an American.  She undresses Matt, takes
him to bed, then she exits, leaving behind a tape
recorder and the fancy red dress she changed into just
before bedding the somewhat shy and inexperienced
young man.

Act Two takes place in New York, in Matt's apartment. 
If any more of the plot is revealed the effect of the
evening will be ruined, so I’m stopping here with just
the comment that the play has no curtain call and that
is one of the dramatic highlights of the evening.

Okay, here are my issues with Rapp and his script.  
Yes, opposites may attract and people turn to those
who are unlike themselves in order to get some
thrills.  But, that obsessive-compulsive insecure Matt
would be friends with Davis, who has no redeeming
qualities, is questionable.  As written, Davis
wouldn’t be an actual friend to anyone, least of all
Matt, whose girl friend Davis stole some years back.  
As for Christina, she's something of an enigma
throughout.  At first I thought that it was the fault
of Laurel Johnson, who plays the role.  She has a bad
French accent, is a weak singer, and her lines often
lack unity of thought.  Nope, it’s not Laurel’s fault.
 The character  is poorly and manipulatively drawn by
Rapp.  Her language and lines don’t ring true. 
Questions abound:  Why the false French accent? Why
does she leave her dress and the tape recorder behind?
  Of all the people in the world, why does she seek
out a scumbag like Davis when she comes to New York? 
The answer is that these are all plot development
devices.

What is surprising is that ‘RED LIGHT WINTER’ was one
of the finalist for last year’s Pulitzer Prize.  With
the quality of this script, no wonder no award was
given.

As they are apt to do, the Bang and Clatter gives the
play a good production.  In fact, the production,
outclasses the material, though trimming the first act
(one hour and thirty minutes was way too long) and
picking up the pace in the second act, would have
helped.

Doug Kusak is generally on target as Matt.  He
probably has the clearest of the characters to
interpret, even with the question of his loyalty to
Davis.  I found his interpretation of the closing
scene a little unclear, but otherwise, it was a good
acting exercise.

Mark Mayo knows no boundaries as Davis.  He is way,
way over-the-top.  It can only be assumed that
Director Sean McConaha really, really wanted us to
hate Davis.  He succeeded.  I wonder what would have
happened if Mayo had pulled back the character a
little.  If he had not screamed almost every line,
over-acted ever gross action and syllable that spewed
forth from his mouth.  The second act confrontation
scene between Davis and Christina was so finely tuned
it was pure emotional agony.   It was almost
unwatchable because of the uncompromising reality of
the performers.

Gorgeous Laurel Johnson does what she can with the
poorly written role of Christina/Christine/ Annie. 
Her physical change between the first and second acts
is amazing.  She perfectly transforms into a Keene
painting of a hollow-eyed child looking at finality.

Capsule judgement:  ‘RED LIGHT WINTER’ has to be one
of the, if not the most disturbing productions I’ve
ever seen.  I’m writing this 24 hours after having
seen the show and I’m still in a state of shock!

‘RED LIGHT WINTER runs through March 25 at The Bang
and Clatter Theatre, 140 E. Market Street in Akron . 
For tickets call 330-606-5317.  For $15 you get to see
a great show,  all the free wine, beer and soft drinks
you want, and free parking.  This is quite an
entertainment buy!  


Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2007, 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


 
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