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In a Dark Dark House
By Neil LaBute
Directed by Joe Jahraus
At Profiles Theatre
4147 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL
Call 773-549-1815, tickets $25 - $30
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 7 pm
Running time is 1 hour, 35 minutes without intermission
Through June 18, 2008
Intense relationship between brothers unearths past demons
In their “Season of LaBute,” Profiles Theatre offers In a Dark Dark House by Neil LaBute first mounted in New York in May, 2007 at Manhattan Class Company. In its Midwest Premiere, In a Dark Dark House deals with the troubled past of two most dysfunctional brothers. This provocative play contains LaBute’s naturalistic language filled with innocuous dialogue that reveals much through simple banter. LaBute’s plays build from simplistic action to unfold the hidden, dark side of his characters.
Here we meet Drew (Hans Fleischmann) committed to a psych ward for DUI and drug possession. His estranged older brother, Terry (Darrell W. Cox), comes to visit Drew. The two reveal their past hatreds as Drew slowly reveals that the root of his present troubles lies with his past sexual abuse by a family friend, Todd. Drew needs Terry to testify to collaborate Drew’s story. The brothers argue, reconcile, and ague more as each explodes to release pent up rage.
Scene two finds Terry, all giggles and charm, on a miniature golf course run by a teenage girl, Jennifer (Allison Torem). The two exchange uneasy banter but the sparks are implied as the naïve teen flirts with the 30something Terry. Cox and youthful Torem are terrific in these scenes. Cox’s uneasy giggles reveal a sinister motivation—or does he?
In scene three, Terry and Drew are celebrating at Drew’s house as the brothers seem to have moved past their earlier rage—or have they? This scene is intense as Terry reveals the source of his seething rage. I’ll not spoil the show by revealing more. This work has LaBute’s final scene surprise. This play is purposefully unsettling as each brother struggles to define abuse and its effects on their lives. The early tedious scenes come together to offer a glimpse into the plight of a family legacy of evil. Darrel W. Cox and Hans Fleischmann are excellent reaching depths of anger and remorse seldom seen on stage.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2008
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