By Richard Pacheco
The
production is sparkled by driven and exciting performances and keen direction.
The play by John Logan ("The Last Ship" and Tony Award for
"Red" on Broadway) explores a complex and twisted relationship
between two young men in search of passion, intellect, and the perfect crime.
Two lovers believed they were supermen and
decided to commit a murder just to prove they were. It backfires as they botch
all kinds of things which come back to haunt them as the police find the body
swiftly and also ever increasing evidence against them. The play is a
compelling look at their dark personalities, their evil natures and how it
developed to the point of murder and its aftermath while believing they were absolved
of all responsibilities for their actions.
Ian Vincent
is Nathan Leopold, highly intelligent, totally awkward socially and inept in
personal interactions except with Loeb. He is a law student and also studies
ornithology as well in Chicago. He is shy and morally distant, downright evil
and impeccably intellectual. Most people are nothing more than ants to him and
he is aloof and condescending to them. He seems to care more about all variety
of birds than people. Even interacting with Loeb’s girlfriend, rude, crude and
dismissive of her with a determination and icy fierceness that is disturbing.
Vincent is excellent as the aloof and darkly motivated, coolly condescending
Leopold. He aptly captures his bumbling shyness with great skill and finesse.
He also displays his dark, icy evil with dexterity and polish.
Michael
Eckenreiter is the suave, personable Loeb with his winning smile and slick
demeanor, adored by ladies and fascinated crowds right until through the trial.
He is like a matinee idol obsessed with his mother, devastated as much as he
can be with she does not appear at trial and seems to disown him. A dapper
dresser with a playboy demeanor he is also totally cold and emotionless to all
but his lover Leopold. Intelligent and socially distant, he is the impulse
behind this murder experiment. He knows how to manipulate, as does Leopold.
Eckenreiter is on the mark as this sleek sociopath, managing to be charming and
chilling simultaneously. He reveals his underlying viciousness wrapped
perfectly in a polished exterior of charm and finesse delivering a chilling
portrayal.
Also on
hand for the sentencing sessions, as the trial has been bypassed by legendary
attorney Clarence Darrow and his adversary state’s attorney Robert Crowe.
Crowe is a
determined and dedicated prosecutor with a strong moral compulsion in his
nature. He sees these two as the epitome of evil deserving of the worst
possible punishment, hanging. He is prepared to do whatever is legally
necessary to accomplish this. His strong oral as well as legal compass keeps
him on target with relentless determination. Taylor Cormier handles all this
with expertise and sincerity. He is utterly convincing in his passion to get
these two evil men hung. His final monologue pleading for the death penalty is
poised and vividly emotional, pleading with sincerity and conviction.
His
adversary is the legendary Clarence Darrow. Darrow is a lifelong opponent of
capital punishment. Darrow also took part in the Scopes Monkey trial. He
considered himself a country lawyer but his wit and courtroom finesse proved
beyond any doubt that he was not a country bumpkin, but rather a skilled
litigator with a sharp intellect and peerless wit. He went from city law to
more union oriented until bribery charges forced him into criminal law. John Softcheck has the poise and presence
necessary to pull of the role. His Darrow is amiable, smart and an incisive
with filled with confidence and bravado. Softcheck delivers with energy and conviction.
His final speech pleading for the boys not to be hanged is rich with nuance and
honesty.
There are
many other supporting actors in the play who play several roles each. Mark P.
Fuller, Stephanie Parquette, Lee Bonia and Dennis Smith all play both reporters
and other roles. They add some depth and atmosphere to the play with solid,
convincing performances that are energetic and skilled.
Ed Maguire
directs it all with zest and frankness. He evokes the best from his actors and
offers vivid relationships between them, convincing ones. The synergy he gets
from Leopold and Loeb is impressive both sincere and chilling simultaneously.
This is a
splendid production that resonates with skill and depth, echoing a conflict
between the restraint of law and the rabid deluded insanity of the killers who
thought they were aloof and above the law, somehow super human not bound by
what binds the rest of us. It is well worth seeing for not only the vivid and
articulate performances but for the realms of morality it plumbs.
The shows
run Thursdays through Saturdays January 12, 13, 14 and 19, 20, 21 at 8 p.m.
with 2:30 p.m. matinees on Sundays, January 15 and 22. Performances are held in
the wheelchair accessible Your Theatre, Inc. Playhouse, 136 Rivet St., New
Bedford, at St. Martin's Episcopal Church Complex.
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