THE LARAMIE PROJECT. To 16 July.
London
THE LARAMIE PROJECT
by Moises Kaufman and Members of Tectonic Theater Project
Sound Theatre 10 Wardour Street To 16 July 2005
Tue-Sat 7.15pm Mat Thu & Sat 3.15pm
Runs 2hr 40min One interval
TICKETS: 0870 890 0503
www.tickets.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 29 June
Small-town America moves impressively to a new home in London's West End.For Maycomb (in Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird) it was race; in Laramie, Wyoming sexuality removed the friendly social veneer to reveal a darker, more complex reality. The killing of 21-year old gay student Matthew Shepard, beaten and left exposed overnight in the country, by 2 young men one a father and Mormon official unearthed a spread of views and beliefs, among churches and inhabitants.
Including how many gay people had just kept their mouths shut about their sexuality, or moved away to more tolerant places. All this would have remained widely unknown were it not for New York theatre company Tectonic, who made 6 visits, from the crime's discovery to the trials of the perpetrators, interviewing and recording those involved and others on the sidelines.
It makes for a fascinating, non-judgmental evening, portraying a shocked society from which Laramie ends up uneasily sympathetic. Geff Francis's finely delivered speech as the murdered man's father speech has the wisdom of Henry Fonda in a last-reel from Hollywood. But the tone is realism rather than idealistic as he draws back from demanding the death penalty.
Laramie's very human individuals shine through, though these British actors, unlike Tectonic's original researcher/performer cast, never knew them. Ruth Carney's cast still bring an intense feel of individual detail these are actors, they can fake reality all right. Just occasionally there's a sense of a bit too much gesture, a rather calculated turn of expression. An actor will fit comfortably into someone their own age, stretch to convince as someone apparently of a different generation.
But in an absorbing show, that barely matters. The mix of professionalism and distress as Penny Layden's policewoman describes discovery of the dying Matthew's pulped body, Russell Tovey's slow, befogged police interview as a killer coping with complex feelings and limited articulacy, hit home hard. This fine production's equally well-played by experienced hands and newcomers (Samantha Robinson confirming the skill shown at Leeds in The Lemon Princess). It makes a superb opening for the Sound, a new venue by Leicester Square bringing an Off-West End spirit to the heart of theatreland.
John McAdams/Moises Kaufman/Stephen Mead Johnson/Murdock Cooper/Jon Peacock/Dennis Shepard/Harry Woods/Doc O'Connor/Bill McKinney/Judge: Geff Francis
Andy Paris/Jedediah Schultz/Doug Laws/Dr Cantway/Matt Mickelson/Russell Henderson/Philip Dubois/Kerry Drake: Andrew Garfield
Mercedes Herrero/Reggie Fluty/Rebecca Hilliker/Waitress/Priest/E-mail Writer: Penny Layden
Amanada Gronich/Catherine Connolly/Lucy Thompson/Marge Murray/Trish Steer/Eileen Engen/Sherry Aanenson: Margot Leicester
Greg Pierotti/Sergeant Hing/Father Roger Schmidt/Rob Debree/Jonas Slonaker/Fred Phelps/Phil Labrie: John Lloyd Fillingham
Leigh Fondakowski/Zackie Salmon/Romaine Patterson/Aaron Kreifels/Tiffany Edwards/Alison Mears: Samantha Robinson
Barbara Pitts/April Silva/Zubaida/Shannon/Shadow/Kristin Price/Minister's Wife/Sherry Johnson: Stephanie Street
Stephen Belber/Matt Galloway/Anonymous Friend of Aaron McKinney/Andrew Gomez/Mormon Home Teacher/Conrad Miller/Baptist Minister/Aaron McKinney/Philip Dubois/Gil Engen: Russell Tovey
Director: Ruth Carney
Designer: David Farley
Lighting: Julian McReady
Sound: Neil Alexander
2005-06-30 08:18:10