BWW Reviews: Theatre Lab's Terrific Production of THE SUNSET LIMITED

Playwright Cormac McCarthy has crafted an intriguing work with The Sunset Limited, and even though he skimps on fully developing his characters, there is still plenty to chew on here. It's also the inaugural production of Theatre Lab, and I'm always happy to welcome a new company to the local theatre scene. This particular piece may be especially light on action and heavy on dialogue, but Cormac's use of wit keeps things humming along without becoming too static. The Theatre Lab has put together a strong production powered by two excellent performances.

As the play opens, Mr. White (a Caucasian) has been brought back to Mr. Black's (an African-American) modest apartment after his suicide attempt was thwarted. From what we are able to discern, Mr. White, a professor of some sort, was standing on the platform waiting for the Sunset Limited to arrive so that he could throw himself on the tracks, when Mr. Black intervened and caught him. For the next hour and a half they basically debate the merits of having religious faith, with Mr. Black taking an evangelical approach, while Mr. White prefers a more scientific and intellectual tact.

Zachary Allen Farmer delivers an exceptional performance as Mr. White, and you can see the wheels turning in his head as he's confronted by Mr. Black about his decision to try and take his own life. Farmer paints a portrait of a man whose vast knowledge and awareness has put him in a very dark place. The things that he finds precious have become frail and are failing in his eyes, and he's begun to question his own sense of purpose and meaning. Enter Mr. Black, superbly played by Robert Alan Mitchell, who seems to be the polar opposite of Mr. White, not only because his skin is a different color, but also because he so fervently believes in a higher power. Watching Farmer and Mitchell square off against one another is simply fascinating, no matter which side of the argument your own beliefs are in agreement with, and their electric portrayals charge the air.

Director Ryan Foizey does a nice job eliciting such sharp performances from his cast, and he puts in just enough movement to keep the viewer engaged in this talk-driven drama. Foizey, along with David Blake, creates a set design that neatly captures the type of slum apartment that Mr. Black lives in. Tyler Duenow's lighting scheme is simple and effective, and Marcy Weigert's costumes act to define each character.

The Theatre Lab gets off to a flying start with their terrific production of The Sunset Limited, and it continues through August 17, 2013 at the Gaslight Theater.

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