[NEohioPAL] Berko review: A STEADY RAIN @ Dobama

[Roy Berko]

Fine acting & powerful script make A STEADY RAIN a must see at Dobama 

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

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

--coolcleveland.com--

On the surface, Keith Huff's A STEADY RAIN tells the story of two lifelong 
friends, who, while serving as policemen, experience several harrowing days that 
forever change their lives, and the lives of those with whom they have contact.  
That description is only the tip of the depth and impact of the script and 
Dobama's riveting production.

The specifics regarding the emotionally wrenching tale concern a series of 
events which center on friendship, alcohol and drug use, family discord, abuse, 
mistaken decisions and what happens when two lives spin out of control.  Part of 
the tale is loosely based on the events surrounding cannibalistic serial killer 
Jeffrey Dahmer and one of his victims. 

The story rolls out in the unusual writing device of alternating monologues and 
present-moment dialogues.  It allows the viewers to become intimately involved 
in the lives of Joey and Denny and to view the unpeeling of the story and the 
motivations of each man.

Joey is single and lonely.  He has spent a life being abused and neglected and 
has retreated to alcohol as an escape.  Desperate for friendship, he has turned 
himself over to Denny to set the course of his life.  Joey has allowed Denny to 
physically and verbally abuse him.  Abuse him until…. (you'll have to see the 
play to finish that sentence). 

Denny is married with children.  He is a hate-filled bigot, who, though stating 
over and over that he does what he does for the sake of his family, allows his 
misguided thinking and judgments to dictate his warped decision making.  Abuse, 
stealing, drug use, having affairs and running roughshod over rules, are only 
part of his issues.  The results are a gun assault on his home, the murders of a 
prostitute, a black youth and a pimp, the near death of his child, and a 
startling ending to the play which brought gasps from the audience. 

The play has been called “a gritty, rich, thick, poetic and entirely gripping 
noir tale."   The writing has engendered such evaluations as 'provides [the 
actors] with enough fiery, superbly rendered, often deeply poetic speeches, 
enough mood shifts, enough emotional cataclysms and action-packed storytelling 
to keep this hallucinatory roller-coaster ride in motion.” 

The award winning play opened on Broadway in 2009 with a sold-out 12-week 
engagement which starred Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig.

Dobama's production, under the focused direction of Joel Hammer, is 
mesmerizing.  Filled with many thought-provoking scenes, actors Scott Plate and 
Jeremy Kendall wrench emotional fidelity from almost every scene.  Different in 
approach, physicality and demeanor, both men develop clear characterizations.  

Plate is introspective as the emotionally thwarted Joey.  He gives us a man 
whose life has been filled with frustration and has learned to escape from his 
hell through alcohol, false love and loyalty.   Except for some accent shifts 
and the need for a little more emotional texturing near the end of the play, 
this is an excellent portrayal.

Kendall, who has several monologues which are as close to nervous breakdowns as 
you'll see on stage, is relentless in his maniacal character development.  It's 
worth attending A STEADY RAIN just to see this performance.  You'll come out of 
the theatre both hating and feeling sorry for Denny. 

Marcus Dana's lighting and Richard Ingraham's sound effects help build the 
tensions and take us on the journey.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:   Fine acting, intriguing script…..'go….go…..go….see  
Dobama's A STEADY RAIN!  

A STEADY RAIN runs through May 30 at Dobama.  Call 216-932-3396 for tickets.
 
Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 
2011, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at 
http://royberko.info.  His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com 
and www.NeOHIOpal