1st Stage: The Lake Effect

"The Lake Effect" is the latest offering from 1st Stage over in Tyson's, Virginia.  1st Stage is a small and intimate theatre company that produces high quality works that sometimes even surprise.  I like it because there general two or three plays that are recent creations that I've never heard of before, and so it keeps me up on what's new out there.  

"The Lake Effect" is a play written by Rajiv Joseph in 2013.  He is best known for this Pulitzer short-listed play "Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo".  The story is centered in Cleveland, OH where he grew up and feature a trio of actors, estranged brother and sister Vijay and Priya who have returned home at the death of their father, and an odd customer, an African American man, Bernard, who over the course of a single year knows about their father than either of his children.  Bernard's involvement in the family was predicated on a bizarre incident involving their father who has left him all of his estate and worldly possessions in his will.  There are clever plot twists and moments of genuine humor tossed in amongst the anger, sorrow and resentments that arise in the characters of the siblings.  The acting was uneven, which left the climax flat; however, the work of Jonathan del Palmer as Bernard was still quite compelling and carried the play at times when the energy of the other actors was wanting or inconsistent.  

The set was lovely, shout out to Kathryn Kawecki.

The production was slated to start at 2:00 PM, and at 2 the house manager stepped out to announce a 30 minute technical delay and free wine and Doritos as the consolation prize.  The only technical thing that I could imagine was that one of the actors was running late.  The mostly Social Security crowd seemed quite and away pleased with the snacks and booze, and the air around me took on a decidedly tangy-yeasty tinge. I finished the NYTimes crossword on my phone.  

Shaan Sharma as Vijay

Surasree Das as Priya

Jonathan del Palmer as Bernard