“Lobby Hero” at 2nd Story DownStage

by Richard Pacheco

            2^nd Story Theatre opens its new DownStage Theatre with Kenneth Lonegran’s “Lobby Hero” a play that mixes the funny and the serious and is sparked by a wonderful cast which gives it energy and flair. It is a mixture of serous social issues with loads of humor. It is the tale of a hapless security guard in a Manhattan high rise apartment who gets caught in the struggle between his boss and two police officers investigating a local murder which his boss’s brother might have been involved in.
           “Lobby Hero” was first performed at the Playwrights Horizons, on March 13, 2001. It later had a UK premiere staged at the Donmar Warehouse between April 4 (opening April 10) and May 4, 2002. Lonergan began writing in high school at the Walden School (a now defunct private school in Manhattan with a strong drama program). Lonegran’s first play, “The Rennings Children,” was chosen for the Young Playwright's Festival in 1982 while he was still an undergraduate. Lonergan matriculated at Wesleyan University where he trained as a playwright and director; he would go on to graduate at the NYU Playwriting Program.
            Lonergan's film career began with his screenplay for the gangland comedy “Analyze This” (1999). He was subsequently offered a job writing “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle” (2000).. Lonergan directed his own screenplay for “You Can Count on Me” (2000); the film, which was executive produced by Martin Scorsese, went on to be nominated for and receive numerous writing awards; he went on to contribute to the screenplay for “Gangs of New York” (2002).
            Jeff is the luckless security guard living under the large shadow of his father’s heroism, saving 23 men from s sinking ship. The images haunts Jeff, making his life unbearable with all that courage to face when he grows up with increasing resentment and a desire to get out from under that and leave his own mark on the world. He wants to do the right thing and have others respect him.

Jeff Church is wonderful as Jeff. He has a wide rang of facial expressions and gestures, movements, that are comic gold and sheet fun. He ably captures his character’s angst and struggles with comic aplomb.

Marlon Carey is William, Jeff’s boss. He is the captain of the security company and has been working for security companies since he was 16.  He works had and takes the worse possible shifts and turns them into opportunities for him. He is big on ambition, not just in himself, but in recognizing the potential in others like Jeff. He can be self righteous and a bit pompous and pontificating at times. He views himself as a honest fellow, a straight as they fly kind guy. All this is put on the line when his brother asks him to lie for him to cover up his part in a brutal murder.

Carey is delightful as William. He is brusque and rigid where needs be and more encouraging as required. It’s a winning performance and a great foil for Jeff and the interchange between the two is terrific.

Then there is Bill, an experienced cop on the way up, awaiting his detective’s badge. Yet he is more than a bit sleazy, particularly when it comes to women. He is ambitious but his attitude is you do for me and I’ll do for you.  He believes that cops look out for other cops, it is a matter of loyalty. He can be car charming however, but he is still sleazy underneath it all, including extra marital affairs or a pay off here and there as things arise to his advantage.

Ara Boghigian is excellent as Bill, managing to deliver charm and sleaze with equal ease and effectiveness. He is cocky and self-assured, at once endearing and repulsive.

The last member of the uniforms is Dawn, a female rooky cop. She has something to prove. It’s trough being a female police officer and she knows she has an uphill battle but relies on Bill to help see here through it all. She genuinely wants to make a difference. In that quest she is sometimes fierce and easily threatened and reacts in kind. She is disliked and resented by the rest of the all male squad, she is prey to their nastiness. She is a sucker for Bill who treats her well for the most part until it goes against his best interests like getting her to lie for him and cover up his transgressions and errors, until she is finally sexually coerced by him to cooperate of lose her career.

Valerie Westgate is wonderful as Dawn, and ably captures the mixtures of feisty and fearful with equal skill and flair.

Director Ed Shea keeps the rapport between he cast at its best, full of nuance and finesse. Even though the second act drags in spots, his wonderful cast keeps it all merrily moving along with laughs and serious moments. It’s a fun ride.

The set by Trevor Elliot is terrific. The lobby is excellent with its paneled walls, large glass doors to the outside, desk and elevator.

It continues at Second Story Theatre until October 6 in the DownStage Theatre. Performances Thursdays at 7 pm, Fridays and Saturday’s at 8 pm, Sundays at 3 pm.

Second Story Theatre 28 Market Street, Warren, RI box office 401-247-4200. www.2ndStoryTheatre.com