Review: Theater 9/12's SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION – Strong Performances but a Bit Static

There's something to be said for a bunch of actors, putting in the work and leaving it all out on the stage unencumbered by elaborate sets. That's why I love Theater 9/12's shows as it's all about the performances. Plus the shows are always so intimate in their little parish hall space that you really feel part of the world they've created. This is why their current production of "Six Degrees of Separation" works so well especially with the narrative quality of much of the dialog. And while many of the performances were quite strong and noteworthy, the show as a whole tended to get a little static.

Based on a true story, John Guare's brilliant play centers on Ouisa and Flan Kittredge (Therese Diekhans and Michael Oaks), a well off couple living in the upper east side of Manhattan. While entertaining one evening a young injured black man, Paul (Dimitri Woods), is brought up to their apartment claiming that he's friends with their children at Harvard and that he's been mugged. The couple takes him in and he quickly works his way into their good graces especially when he tells them that he is the son of Sidney Poitier. They allow him to spend the night until he can get meet up with his father the next morning but their proper world is soon rocked when they find Paul the next morning in bed with a hustler. They chase both of them out and attempt to get back to their lives until they discover that some of their friends have had similar experiences with Paul making them determined to get to the bottom of why and how he's doing this and turn him over to the police.

The show is basically a battle of wills as the Kittredge's try and exert their power over their friends and their kids, the kids try and exert their power over their parents with their bad behavior and Paul exerts his power over them all by being able to read what they all want him to be. Director Charles Waxberg has assembled a fine ensemble for the piece and keeps the pace clipping right along. However the show and delivery tends to fall into a bit of a rut with a very consistent rhythm making it a bit static. But that's a minor qualm from an otherwise solid show.

Diekhans is wonderful as the doting Ouisa and flips back and forth beautifully between frightened and angry at the situation to sympathetic and she and Oaks have some great chemistry together and with the audience as they narrate the situation like some anecdote at a cocktail party. Woods is quite engaging and likable as the young con artist and has quite an interesting arc by the end but he tended to fall into that rhythmic delivery and could have used some variation. Margaret Bicknell. Michael Ramquist and Eric Olson bring in some magnificent comedy as the other clueless parents duped by Paul especially Ramquist and his minor meltdown over the situation. And I have to mention J. Samuel Cowan and Megan Becker who only have a few scenes as a young struggling couple also conned by Paul but manage some gorgeous work especially Cowan who's final monologue was quite powerful and heartbreaking.

So another engaging and solid show from Theater 9/12 filled with fine performances. If you haven't caught one of their shows yet, this one could turn you into a fan like me. And so, with my three letter rating system I give Theater 9/12's "Six Degrees of Separation" a solid YAY-. Some Great Performances but a show that needs to break out of its rut.

"Six Degrees of Separation" from Theatre 9/12 performs at Trinity Parish Hall through February 19th. For tickets or information visit them online at www.theater912.com.

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