an evening of 10 minute plays
The theme offered to playwrights in this category is “The good, bad and ugly” thus, these plays are meant to “explore humanity’s best and worst players.”
Executive Order 10450
By Hal Corley
Directed by Ryan S. Taylor
In this play a son (Eric Humphries) confronts his father (T. Anthony Quinn) about the man’s role approximately 25 years earlier in helping ferret out homosexuals at the State Department pursuant to President Eisenhower’s Executive Order 10450. The matter has particular salience to the son because another family known to both has a son dying of AIDS and the victim’s father refuses to visit his son in the hospital.
Executive Order 10450 is earnest and generally well-written. Yet the story (apparently set in 1985) feels a little dated and the fact that the two characters are talking about offstage characters and mostly about incidents from the past lessens the dramatic impact. The son’s anger is also so unwavering that it weakens the interaction, although T. Anthony Quinn gives a nicely nuanced performance as the father.
Oscar Grant is Dead and I’m Terrified
By Michael Salomon
Directed by Raymond O. Caldwell
Oscar Grant is Dead and I’m Terrified is based upon a true story involved an unarmed man shot in the back by a Bay Area Rapid Transit policeman while lying prostrate, allegedly resisting arrest. The shooting occurred in the early morning hours of January 1, 2009 and the incident (which was recorded on cell phone cameras) and its legal aftermath provoked widespread public reaction.
This second socially conscious play is the more powerful of the two. A talented cast (Lucretia Anderson, Jane Dempsey, Chris Dwyer, and Jonathan Randle as Oscar Grant) present the impact of the event from several perspectives and link it to other cases of police shootings of unarmed victims. The direction is confident and the transitions effective as characters describe what it meant to them when Oscar Grant was shot.
The Peach
By Alex Dreamann
Directed by Ryan S. Taylor
Jake (Betsy Rosen) is a big man whose own mother said he was soft in the head (like a peach). Jake’s primary enjoyment in life is killing things and eating pie. His obedient and violent nature make him a useful criminal asset, but pose a problem to his colleague Karwacki (Omar Bar) when Jake receives conflicting assignments.
The Peach has some mild humorous bits built upon Jake’s simplistic nature. Ultimately, though, the story is unconvincing and the surprise conclusion a little too easy to see coming.
Ice Holes
By Greg Romero
Directed by Ryan S. Taylor
Ice Holes is the story of Erik the Red (Sun King Davis) and his subordinate Minik (a puppet directed by Betsy Rosen) violently confronting three famous explorers: Admiral Robert Peary (Eric Humphries), Francis Drake (T. Anthony Quinn), and Ponce de Leon (Omar Bar). During the play Erik the Red also reveals aspects of his life and philosophy.
Ice Holes is a humorous work enlivened by several entertainingly absurd aspects (e.g., game show touches). It feels more like a skit than a play, but it does feature a strong over-the-top performance by Sun King Davis and works towards a concluding message.
Park Place or Monopoly Becomes Electra
By Lee August Praley
Directed by Colin A. Grube
Park Place or Monopoly Becomes Electra is a play about two characters, Electra (Caroline Mahoney) and Orestes (Paul Laudiero). For those of you who aren’t mythology fans, Electra successfully urged Orestes to kill their mother after she had conspired with her lover to kill their father. In this work the two characters play monopoly and talk about their lives and sibling relationship.
This play felt flat and unfocused throughout. The parallels between following the rules of Monopoly and the moral rules of life felt strained and the relationship between the brother and sister did not have any interesting revelations.
True Nails
By Chris Van Strander
Directed by Alexander Strain
This play presents an episode in the life of “Father Mitch, Man of God.” Father Mitch (Tony Villa) is a former convict before he got the calling. Now he is a religious detective with street smarts and a tough guy attitude.
In this case he must track down some holy objects, the nails used in the Crucifixion. His opponents, the innocent Mary (Amy Kellet) and the sultry Magdelana (Jennifer Knight), agree to turn over the nails if Father Mitch is successful in defending the Church against historical and moderns sins.
True Nails is one of the highlights of the Source Festival. It is a hilarious parody that is reminiscent of the Mickey Spillane hard-boiled crime novels. The script is clever, the direction is lively, and all three actors give convincing film noirish performances.
Overall, the “Heroes and Villains” collection of plays is not quite as strong as the festivals other two sets of 10-Minute Plays. The fun of True Nails, however, may be worth the admission price alone.
“Heroes and Villains” performs again June 21 at 8pm, June 25 at 1pm and July 2 at 4pm.
The 2011 Source Festival of new plays runs thru July 3, 2011 at Source, 1835 14th Street NW, Washington, DC. Buy tickets.
Produced by The Source Festival
Reviewed by Steven McKnight
Somewhat Recommended
Running time: 1 hour 30 min (one intermission)
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