Ndegwa McCloud was impressive as lethal injection survivor Damon Robinson — powerful and believable both as a criminal and as a searching human being. Doak Bloss added humor and humanity as the annoying but endearing fellow-death-row-inmate James “Roach” Teagle — ultimately a very touching character. Drew Cook is a new face on stage in our area — convincing as Father Adrian Crouse, a multidimensional priest dealing with Damon’s agnostic rebellions/confusions in an earnest and creative way. Janell Hall was a complicated ray of sunshine, stress, and hope as Damon’s sister, Chantel, visiting after too long, opening a window onto their past and her present.
Joseph Beaman played an authentic, but seemingly minor role as Corrections Officer Cooper, making his acting debut. It was only after casting him that director Rose learned that he is actually a former Corrections Officer from one of the prisons in Jackson. Joseph became her Prison Consultant, and played a crucial part in getting things right about life behind bars. The two-cell, death-row setting is simple — with a small chaplain’s office down front. The scenes are brought to life by Julio Caceres’ wonderful sound design of appropriate background noise and jail-door sounds.
This play is an hour and a half, no-intermission experience of weighing the meaning of time, the need for contact, and the complex humanity we all share. You have two more chances to see this Ixion production in a Lansing Mall storefront on the north side of the west wing, between the center entrance and the Lenscrafters west entrance. Look for the black curtains in the storefront windows.
When I Come To Die continues for two more shows: Friday/Saturday May 12 & 13 at 8 PM Tickets are $15 at the door or online via https://our.show/ixion-ensemble/whenicome. For more information visit the show website, https://our.show/ixion-ensemble/whenicome.