It’s a challenging script, usually done with dozens of actors portraying the dozens of individuals. Downeaster director Kathryn Willis has distributed these roles among only five brave actors — Eli Burton, Laura Johnson, Loan Nguyen, Isaac Sprague, and Lekeathon Wilson — each becoming a new person by selecting a hat, a scarf, a jacket from the crate beside each chair, and putting on a new voice/posture/attitude along with the costume piece.
Kudos to the actors for this valiant effort — many more lines and acting challenges per actor than usual — though this device made it harder for the audience to differentiate the characters. Isaac was the best at differentiating, incorporating good contrast of accents and physical attitudes, and I was impressed by Eli’s heart and sincerity in his roles. The diversity of this cast was also refreshing and added another layer to the ideals of community contained in this script.
This was a “dress rehearsal” of sorts - their first time at the Robin Theatre, and there were a few technical difficulties with recorded extra sound, but the show still packed a punch and will deliver it again October 6, 7, 8 and 10 at 8 pm plus a matinee Sunday the 8th at 2pm
at The Robin Theatre on South Washington in Reo Town.
http://www.thedowneastertheatre.com
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