It’s a “period piece” that sadly feels pretty current. Audio news clips established time, switching scenes and showing events of eight years earlier. (Sound Design Shannon Schweitzer) Friends and coworkers hang out and share their camaraderie and grievances at the local bar. (Beautifully authentic bar set by Gabriela Castillo.)
Most of the cast works at the local factory which is succumbing to deindustrialization. The management/worker division divides the friends, and racial tensions divide them further — exposing how working class Americans can be pitted against each other as they struggle for a better life. The play lays bare the human costs of late-stage American capitalism.
Director Ryan Welsh led his cast of nine through a few laughs and a greater portion of indignation, anger and frustration. There is no fight choreographer listed in the program so kudos to Ryan for that scary interlude, as well. I offer a grain of salt for some actors being “too young” for their roles — this is student theatre, after all.
But all the actors brought intensity and sincerity to their roles. Tyler Marks was strong in his parole officer role. Ben Corsi (Jason) was charming/scary. Michale Coffey (Chris) was heartbreaking in his thwarted promise. Their mothers, played by Katherine Clemons and Kamryn Saratt were powerful in both their friendship and their fights. Stefon Funderburke was most convincing, touching, sad, as dad Brucie. Michael Bolaños was a ray of hope as the maligned but noble bus boy, Oscar. Gabriel Blaze Herdegan brought a fatherly perspective to his bartender role. Shelby Ginsberg was an extremely convincing drunk.
MSU’s Studio 60 stage is in the basement of the Auditorium building. Pick up tickets at the box office on the Farm Lane side of the building, go downstairs and down the hall on the south side of the building, just past the Arena Theatre. It only seats about 75, and was nearly sold out on a Wednesday — perhaps a function of the truncated production schedule? Only five shows left — so best to reserve ahead at https://www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/sweat