Sarah-Jane Casey

Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Killing Room, reviewed by Joanna Bowzer
One Year Lease presents The Killing Room
Reviewed by Joanna Bowzer

Cy and Ed are old. Really old. Ancient. And to top it off they have been holed up in a room for eons in a post-apocalyptic world where the only people they have are their doctor, their nurse, their wives and each other. At one point, these men – well, Gods – ruled over the Earth battling each other for power and control. But when we meet them in The Killing Room by Daniel Keene, they are shriveled up shells of the titans they once were, kept alive by constant IV blood transfusions and organ transplants, their only real pleasure derived from bickering with each other incessantly.

Inspired by the Ancient Story Of Thyestes, The Killing Room was commissioned by the One Year Lease Theater Company from Keene, who according to the press release is one of Australia’s most popular playwrights. The piece, billed as part ancient tragedy, part psychological thriller, and part absurd farce and woven together by Keene’s strong, steady hand, thrills with a wonderfully wicked subtlety lost on many modern playwrights.

It was also a joy to see the skill through which Christopher Baker and David Deblinger brought to life brothers Cy and Ed. The work of these master craftsmen along with the compelling performances by the rest of the ensemble not only served the play, but elevated the already exquisite text to another plane.

And, obviously, a great deal of the credit belongs to director Nick Flint, whose deft hand steered this provocative creation along powerfully using every tool at his disposal: a powerful script, a talented design team, and the performances on stage to bring to life a marvelous, entertaining and insightful piece of theater. It is this type of work in the downtown theaterscape that leaves audiences clamoring for more new, innovative work. Definitely don’t miss it.

The Killing Room runs Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm through April 2 at TEATRO CIRCULO at 64 East 4th Street (between 2nd Ave and Bowery). Tickets are available online here.

Production Team:
Playwright: Daniel Keene
Director: Nick Flint
Dramaturg: Jessica Kaplow Applebaum
Dramaturg: Amanda Culp
Stage Manager: Rosy Garner*
Lighting Design: Mike Riggs
Set Design: James Hunting
Sound Design: Nathan Leigh
Costume Design: Kay Lee
Makeup Design: Arielle Toelke
Artwork: Chloe Benetatos
Graphic Design: Brian Michael Thomas

Cast:
Danny Bernardy*
Sarah-Jane Casey*
David Deblinger*
Babis Gousias
Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris*
Christopher Baker
Danielle Heaton
Richard Saudek

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Joanna Bowzer is an NYC-based writer, director and producer with multiple theater and film projects in development. She is the founder of the Generations Theater Project. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/joannabowzer.