The Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea is celebrating its 20th season by presenting four original plays by Michigan playwrights.
Now on stage until March 5 is Corktown by Michael Brian Ogden, a bloody, violent and funny modern mob tale. Instead of the Italian mafiosos we love so much, Ogden introduces us to a modern Irish crime story which takes place in the tough Irish neighborhood of Detroit - Corktown.
In this story, the modern hitmen are Army veterans of the Iraq war. They're tough, brutal and workaday murderers - following orders to perform misery on people they don't even know. One of them, Joey, is beginning to second guess his chosen profession. His partner Laurence (acted by playwright Ogden) doesn't understand his anxieties but loves him like a brother nonethless.
The action takes place in a modern apartment designed by Bartley Bauer, and is amazingly realistic. A full kitchen (with running water), living room and bathroom with all of the amenities adorn the stage.
There's a lot to like in this play. The language and story are gritty but also funny. Don't take the kiddies to this one. There's blood (gallons of it) and dead bodies everywhere.
The big hole in the plot is the unlikely romance that develops between Joey (wonderfully played by Matthew David) and a woman who he was supposed to kill but amazingly comes back to life (Stacie Hadgikosti) in his apartment. A relationship ensues and although the dialogue is entertaining and the acting superb, it just does not ring true and the flaw weakens the entire play.
Guy Sanville has the directing honors here and he is excellent at choreographing the very realistic fight and murder scenes. There's plenty of high energy and aggression on the stage. The actors go for it full throttle.
The directing is tight and the acting is all top drawer so, despite the plot weakness, you will likely still have an evening of fun entertainment at Corktown.
Comments on the arts scene in and around Lansing, Michigan and beyond
1 comment:
Right on Ken. This was the most inspiring event I have ever attended. Many of us have kept in touch over the years bonded together by our love of music and our experience at Heights. It's been hard to explain to many the wonderful experience we had as high school students. I think many of the recipients of my numerous discussions of this subject thought I was full of nonsense. However, I have spoken to a number of the spouses in attendance at the event who now finally understood the joy we all felt and continue to feel about our public school music education. It taught us the meaning of excellence, pride and discipline. Would that all school systems were enlightened enough to continue these music and arts programs. -- Ellen Vinocur Potash
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