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This hourlong piece
is deeply satisfying and moving. Brian D’Arcy James performs Conor
McPherson’s 1994 solo drama in a stirring portrayal of a nameless
Dublin thug employed by a ruthless tavern owner. ("I scare people
and set fire to places," he quips matter-of-factly.) Wear ing a
dingy sweater and dark pants, James paces the stage, often
clenching his fists at his sides as if he were a tick away from
smashing your face. Under Carl Forsman’s direction, James creates
a disquieting portrait of a man enmeshed in the tentacles of fate
and the dark side of human nature. Yet there’s more to this
low-rent hoodlum than heartlessness and brutality. He is oddly
likable, and at times, very funny. The bulk of the monologue is
devoted to a turning point in his life where a botched job ends up
in a kidnapping and murder. He develops a genuine rapport with his
victims and in the end even undergoes a sort of redemption, an epi
phany. James’ performance is superlative, bringing to life the old
adage that the only thing better than a good story is the telling
of it. Court Theater, 722 N. La Cien ega Blvd., W. Hlywd.;
Thurs.-Sun., 8 p.m.; added perfs Sat., 9:45 p.m.; thru Feb. 23.
(323) 655-8587. |
