Body of Water Has Them Flooding into Act II Playhouse

Theater: Act II Playhouse
Show Title: Body of Water
Opened: January 22, 2008
Seen: January 24, 2008
Reviewer: Amy Lewis
Submitted: January 25, 2008

The audience for Body of Water can certainly not complain that they aren’t stimulated by the play they’ve just seen. As opposed to the usual mass exodus of solemn, silent theatergoers trying to make it to their cars to “beat the rush”, the crowd at ACT II Playhouse actually congregated in several areas of the theatre and the lobby, questioning, discussing and comparing their theories about the events in Lee Blessing’s play.

The piece centers on a couple who awake to find themselves in a house they don’t know, with no idea who they are or who each other is.  For the first part of the play, they attempt to piece together the puzzle until a young woman, who they don’t know but who clearly knows them, comes into the picture.  She begins to fill them in on the details, but something seems off in her accounts, and questions start to arise as to whether she is telling the truth.  A series of different stories come from this new woman, some gruesome, some tragic and all plausible enough to make one wonder what is real and what is not.

The play unfolds gracefully, offering just the right amount of humor, mystery and drama.  While the characters on stage find their situation terrifying and unsettling, the comic opportunities are rife within the process of how the two try to figure out who they are.  As new possibilities are introduced into the mix, however, there is a looming sadness and confusion by which one can’t help but feel affected; amusement soon turns to pity and the audience becomes equally baffled in their search for the truth.

Body of Water is brought to life by a talented cast that find meaning in every moment of their characters’ journeys.  Buck Shirner and Cynthia Raff are outstanding as Moss and Avis, the couple in the predicament of the play.  Shirner flits back and forth from vulnerability to randiness to fortitude with excellent conviction. It is nearly impossible to not feel the anguish and frustration Moss is experiencing, as Shirner’s embodiment is so flawless.  Raff is equally believable, layering in an additional element of mystery that is at the heart of the play’s enigma.  Her performance makes it impossible for the audience to walk away completely certain of Avis’ motivations or past, creating a fascinating quandary that is thrilling to dissect during and after the play.

The setting and direction lend to the impact of the piece as well, as, like one can always expect from ACT II, both are smart and attentive to the script.  Gene Roland Frank’s direction is astute and perpetuating, keeping the action fresh and intriguing despite everything occurring entirely in one room with only three actors; the performance never seems stale and there are always endless possibilities to keep the audience riveted.  Adam Riggar’s set design augments the motion of the show, as he has clearly paid careful attention to the details in the script and brought them to fruition with care.

For an evening of theatre that will have you thinking long after the lights come up and engaged in discussion the whole way home, Body of Water is the way to go.  The piece is original, the production is fantastic and the acting stellar.  Anyone who misses this should have a sinking feeling…