A "Bold New Play": Relative Captivity Reviewed

From the review of Relative Captivity in the Eureka Times Standard by Betti Trauth:

"It's all about relating and relationships -- about love and hate, laughter and tears, anger and loss, separation and incarceration, freedom and captivity. When all is said and done, it's all relative. That's the paradoxical nature of the bold new play written by HSU professor, Margaret Thomas Kelso that opened its limited run last weekend in HSU's intimate Gist Hall Theatre.

" The playwright's characters are careful composites of real people and true situations that mirror stark reality. These people will shock you, move you, make you suddenly laugh and just as suddenly cry. Kelso has created a tattered tapestry of lives that unravel before your eyes in poignant moments of light and dark.

Thanks to the astute, strong hand of director John Heckel every character's emotional nuance is unpeeled -- every physical element is staged with stunning clarity. Heckel's scenic design also captures the visual moods of the piece perfectly, as does the vivid lighting designed by James McHugh and the costumes by Emily Blanche.

The intricate sound design is by Michelle Carter, and the powerful incidental music is played live on drums by Liam Carey-Rand (in the persona of Nordic god, Loki). This intense drumming, that introduces and later underscores the action, is as sharp and edgy as a knife. "

"... the roles of the relatives and inmates all give the cast a chance to individually shine with their believable, gritty portrayals. Especially outstanding is veteran actress, Bernadette Cheyne -- who is close to remarkable in her portrayal of the cranky, endearing Cerese. She's a lonely old woman who comes every visiting day to sit outside the walls by the entrance to the prison, generously sharing unsolicited wit and wisdom with visitors (especially newcomers). Hers is a definitive performance.

Other show-stealing turns come from Sharon Butcher as the tough-as-nails mom and repeat offender Donna; Robin Dicello as her down-to-earth mother, Rona; and Alexander Gabriel as their sullen son/grandson, Ryan -- who has vowed to never forgive his mom for basically abandoning him.

The rest of the demanding roles in the ensemble are strongly delivered by Angelakis, Cartier, Joe Castro, Charlie Heinberg, Johanna Hembry, Kristin Hoffman, Thomas Tucker, Lian Carey-Rand and Dion Davis. "

Relative Captivity resumes tonight--Thursday, December 6, and plays two more nights, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm in the Gist Hall Theatre.