Unicorn "The Seafarer" review by BeninKC

The Seafarer Sails on Vision and Talent

Rating: 5

The Seafarer

Kansas City Actors Theatre

If the first ever collaboration between The Unicorn and Kansas City Actors Theatre is any indication, this is a partnership that should be utilized many more times.  Their current production, The Seafarer, by Conor McPherson, at the Unicorn's Jerome Stage, seamlessly weaves a seemingly realistic, yet oddly mystical tale, in modern day Ireland.  Set in a basement  in Baldoyle, Ireland, on Christmas Eve, the play is the story of Sharky (David Fritts) and his encounter over a game of higher-stakes-than-expected poker with Mr. Lockhart (Victor Raider-Wexler), who we quickly recognize to be an earthly incarnation of the Devil.  Filling out this ensemble of eccentric Irish card players are Sharky's blind brother, Richard (Allan L. Boardman), and friends Ivan (Stuart Rider) and Nicky (Dean Vivian).



The script is a skillful blend of David Mamet-like interrupted thought (McPherson himself acknowledges that this script is his tribute to Mamet's style) and McPherson's more characteristic moving and introspective storytelling.  The cast, under Mark Robbins's skillful direction, bridges these changes in style in such a way that both the inarticulate broken phrases and the expressive lyrical monologues seem perfectly natural for each of these characters.  A picture of deeply flawed, but undeniably sympathetic men trying to find their way in life is painted for us with humor and pathos.

Fritts brings a strong brooding presence to his character as we watch him try to conquer his inner demon of alcoholism and the external threat from the actual demon in the room.  Raider-Wexler is suitably ominous as a Devil who is not quite comfortable in his human form, but does enjoy getting to experience the' hair o' the dog' in a seemingly endless series of various forms of alcoholic beverages.  Boardman is unerring as a quarrelsome old sot, who when the chips are down, exhibits his own peculiar brand of wisdom.  Vivian's nearly hysterical portrayal of Nicky contrasts perfectly with Rider's more subdued, but compelling Ivan.

Gary Mosby's rough hewn basement set works effectively to set the atmosphere, even allowing us to get a suggestion of the home above by revealing exposed floor joists.   After a couple of shaky cue executions in the beginning Alex Perry's lighting provides just the right atmosphere for the basement poker game including moments of isolated specials to focus our attention on the real conflict.  The fact that these non-realistic touches add to, rather than detract from, the story is a strong statement about the skill of the overall technical design and execution for this production.  Except for a couple of obviously canned offstage sound effects, Daniel Warneke's choices for sound and music are spot on.  Jon Fulton Adams clothes his actors so that we clearly sense their personalities and the cluttered mix and match of alcohol remnants and Irish holiday basement décor by property designer Evan Hill complete the realistic environment of the stage.

Ultimately, this is a play about how we react when faced with fateful choices in our lives.  All of the characters choose courses of action that are alternately degrading and ennobling.  Even the Devil manages to transcend his nature, after providing Sharky with a truly horrific description of hell, by  almost prayerfully describing heaven in a beautifully constructed moment of almost poetic power.  The fact that we find ourselves almost reaching out to Sharky, in spite of his surly behavior, and hoping for his eventual triumph over his afflictions, both internal and external, attests to the skill of the playwright and the actor inhabiting the character.  In fact, the entire production reveals that we are in the presence of a master storyteller and an exciting new collaboration of Kansas City theatre artists who are at the top of their game.

If you enjoy watching a great script being interpreted by a highly skilled group of actors, supported by an excellent creative staff, make your way to The Unicorn Theatre to see The Seafarer between now and November 7th.  Be sure to reserve your tickets ahead, because even though this reviewer saw the show on a Tuesday, the theatre was completely full.  That also bodes well for this successful experiment in collaboration from two of Kansas City's favorite theatre companies.

read the review at KC Stage