Review: THE END TIMES - Not the Best of Times

THE END TIMES/by Jesse Mu-En Shao/directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera/Skylight Theatre/thru May 15, 2016

For those adverse to sitting through cult orientation lectures, the world premiere of playwright Jesse Mu-En Shao's THE END TIMES might be ninety minutes to avoid. Shao vividly recreates the militaristic recitation of a cult's teachings which all members continuously repeat, either to re-enforce the lessons to each other or to convince themselves they're doing the right thing. Contract items of extensive rules must be initialed and signed by each 'saint' before continuing on to their salvation. Those who don't sign, will be condemned to eternal damnation, after being ousted from the 'Brother House.'

The leader and his devotees seem to have no other personality traits to project other than their tunnel-vision focus on honoring Nelson (a commanding, charismatic Joe Spano as their cult leader seen only on the video montages projected on the blank stage walls.) Two new questioning 'saints' have much more human qualities to portray and, fortunately in Christian T. Chan as Tim and Matt Pascua as Evan, they do. The cult perspective certainly will win no favors with pro-cult followers. The build-up of the absurdity of the cult's mind control goes on in much length and inflexibility. By the time, Tim stands up to his situation at hand, you want to yell out in support. Scenes of Evan, now living on his own outside the Brother House, energize the regimented proceedings. Pascua exhibits the many colors of a young person in search of his future without the strict regime his parents put into place for him. Chan's Tim's torn between his cult beliefs and his long friendship with the rebelling Evan, as well as, nursing a romantic attraction to 'Sister' Ruthann (played with what enthusiasm permissible for a cult member by Mariah Robinson). Chan quite ably handles Tim's welcomed explosion near the end.

Nick Cimiluca registers blank perfectly as the ultra-programmed Brother House leader Jamie with his misplaced enthusiasm. Jamie following and executing Nelson's orders seem to be his sole motivation. (Well, maybe, besides skimming some rent money from the saints on the side???)

Alexander Pimentel's entrance as the 'new saint' Seth brings a refreshing burst of energy to the dry regimentations of Brother House. But Pimentel's Seth quickly succumbs to the cult's auto-piloted conditioning and his interesting individuality disappears.

Skylight Theatre Company co-produces THE END TIMES with Jon Lawrence Rivera's Playwrights' Arena. But not even Rivera's sure-handed directing can make this exercise in cult tactics end soon enough.

As always, Skylight Theatre's production values' top-rate. Scenic designer Christopher Scott Murillo has created a main set of the rustic Brother House living room with bunkbeds on stage right for Tim's bedroom and a basketball court and a barren corner stage left for Evan's apartment complex. Lighting designer McLeod Benson pinspots individual 'saints' and efficiently lights the active set avoiding any disruptive scene changing. Lily Bartenstein utilizes all the blank wallspace for her very effective video sermons from Nelson.

www.skylighttix.com

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