NATIONAL BOHEMIANS – Written by Luke Sorge; Directed by Warren Sherrill. Produced by Miners Alley Performing Arts Center (1100 Miners Alley, Golden) through April 28th. Tickets available at 303-935-3094 or minersalley.com.
I generally start off talking about the story or the actors. Even though this was an interesting story and the actors are terrific, the absolute superstars of this production are John Hauser, Sound Designer; Vance McKenzie, Lighting Designer; and Xander Claypool, who designed the set and made the lightning work. The evening starts with a gusty wind blowing outside a garage loaded with junk. While I’m at it, let me add Samantha Piel to that list of superstars. She dressed that junky ol’ garage to the point that you could almost smell the oil spills on the floor and believe that everything had a greasy coat of dust on it. The minifridge was filled with the exact number of National Bohemian (Natty Boh’s) beer, the brew of choice back East in Baltimore.
Back to the storm. First gusty winds blew the door out of people’s hands. It gradually heightened in noise and velocity into a wind and rainstorm with lightning and thunder. By Act II, it was a full-blown hurricane with horrible flashes of lightning, thunder that shook the building (literally), high velocity winds, and rain drenching the actors when they ran for the house outside. Thunderclaps that made you jump in your seat. Lightning flashing through the windows made you cringe. It was not just a good storm; it was THE most realistic storm I’ve ever experienced in a theatre. Kudos to all who had a part in making it happen. And making it quit!
This is one important part of the evening. Another was the raucous but loving family drama playing out on the stage. The oldest brother in a family of three, John (Tim Fishbaugh) has brought their mother home from her nursing home to “relieve her of her pain.” He has been the closest to her geographically and has been taking care of her for some time. The middle brother Thom (Len Matheo – who we don’t see on stage nearly enough) and the younger brother, Oscar (Steven Burge – who is also returning to the stage after too long an absence) hear of his actions and speed to their mother’s “rescue” with outrage at what he has done. As the evening progresses, motives are discovered, personalities revealed, memories revisited, and unspoken reasons and plans uncovered. A fourth character arrives – Thom’s estranged daughter Liah (Jenna Moll Reyes), who has her own bone to pick with all three of them. A fifth unseen character is the mother – affectionally known as Boo Bird – whose voice comes querulously through the baby monitor. During quiet moments, John often walks over and listens to his mother’s silence, as though expecting something to happen.
There are surprising twists and turns to the story which create an unexpected conclusion – that it was a little hard to accept. But no spoilers here! You can render your own opinion in the comments after you’ve seen it. Luke has left unanswered questions for a sequel, I hope. The bottom line, however, is that you have to see it. Come for the storm; stay for the story!
A WOW factor of 8.75!!