The one-act, Came for Me by Seth Kramer of NYC, directed by Michael McCallum, was a bit of a screed, but contained legit warnings about a potential dystopian future. As with last weeks Renegade runners-up, there were no programs/poster with actor names (but I did recognize my friend Bruce Bennett who added a welcome dash of humor.) This week we do have a handout with author biographies. This script is a dark warning, complete with portentous references to Socrates and Plato.
The ten-minute There’s a New Life Coming by Mark O’Neill-Butler, was directed AND performed by Sallee Kallenbach. Sallee was a helpful if taken-aback librarian dealing with a grieving(?) widow learning about computers and new directions. I did not get the name of the actress playing the widow, but she did a good job on her acting debut, bringing some “mature” spunk into this fun little show.
The full length show was another WOW featuring the Kelly Brothers, Connor and Quinn (stars of last week’s hit, Playing for Real) — well matched by the also-talented Lainie Plunkett. Room Number by Akela Munsey of Los Angeles was deftly directed (fully staged, bed/desk/jello and all) by Judith Evans. This was a wonderful tragic fairy tale of a script brought excruciatingly to life by the effervescent Connor Kelly. In yet another, weirdly funnier, dystopian future, his job is to “terminate” the woman in room 5642 with whom he has fallen in love. An EXTRA BONUS was that the author, herself was there — and will be Friday and Saturday, too, for a talkback. She is only 20 years old but wise beyond her years; it was a treat to meet her.
Remember, on Saturday the 17th, you can see The Play’s the Thing - 7pm - at Riverwalk Theatre, examining marginalized individuals through Shakespeare’s texts followed by a panel discussion - and then, with any luck, you can scurry over to Urban Beat in time to catch Room Number and at 10:30 the results of RENEGADE RUCKUS 24-hour labor and delivery of a litter of brand new short plays, at 10 pm.