NILES — March traditionally comes in like a lion. At Trumbull New Theatre, it comes in with a “Storm.”
Norm Foster’s “Storm Warning” opened Friday at TNT, and the script is more dramatic than other scripts written by the Canadian playwright.that have been staged locally in the past decade. Despite the serious plot elements, what stands out about TNT’s staging is how actors Molly Cravalho and Brett Bunker play the lighter moments.
“Storm Warning” is set in late September 1953 at two remote cabins in the Canadian wilderness. Jack Forrester, a World War II veteran carrying mental scars from his years of combat, serves as caretaker of the properties in the off-season, seemingly for the solitude it provides.
The quiet is soon disrupted by Emma Currie, a foul-mouthed, pill-popping, hard-drinking big band arranger, who is looking for a place where she can focus on creating some new musical charts. In some ways, they are polar opposites, but both are choosing different methods to deal with their own personal demons.
Foster, who has been called Canada’s Neil Simon, is better at comedy than drama. It’s not hard to see most of the plot twists in “Storm Warning” coming well in advance, and that seems to be more of a problem with the writing than the staging by first-time director Jessie Bryner.
But for a mostly serious play about two emotionally wounded people, there are a surprising number of laughs.
Cravalho has the flashier role of the two and embraces the character with great gusto. Emma is brash and funny, a woman used to working in a male-dominated field and surviving by matching those male colleagues drink for drink and barb for barb, and Carvalho embodies that spirit.
Foster gives the character some great dialogue — her reaction to a beau who wanted her to marry him, quit working and have eight children is one of several memorable one-liners — and Cravalho delivers it with impeccable timing.
Bunker has to be the opposite of flashy, but there are glimpses of dry wit in his performance that serve as an effective counterpoint to Emma. Jack is trying to bury everything he feels, requiring Bunker to express emotion without being demonstrative. He largely succeeds, but there are moments where a little more inflection and variation in delivery might have been appropriate. A monologue near the end of the first act is powerful, but perhaps not as powerful as it could have been.
Despite only two actors and a single location for each act (the exterior of the two cabins for act one, and a cabin interior for act two), Bryner keeps the pacing brisk, and the actors’ movements feeling natural. It’s neither too static nor needlessly busy, which is always a risk with a two-character play.
Bunker also is responsible for the set and lighting design, while his son, Flynn Bunker, is credited with the sound design. Both the lighting and sound are used effectively in the second act, when the weather event mentioned in the title arrives.
“Storm Warning” isn’t a perfect play, but TNT’s production is entertaining. It doesn’t overstay its welcome (running a bit less than two hours, including intermission) and features two actors who work well together.
It definitely deserves a bigger audience than the less-than-half-full house it drew for opening night. Hopefully, the audience forecast for the next two weekends will be more encouraging.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: “Storm Warning”
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday through March 22
WHERE: Trumbull New Theatre, 5883 Youngstown Warren Road, Niles
HOW MUCH: Tickets are $17 for adults and $15 for students and are available online at trumbullnewtheatre.tix.com and by calling the TNT box office between 6 and 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at 330-652-1103.
Hence then, the article about tnt finds laughter in storm y play was published today ( ) and is available on TribToday ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( TNT finds laughter in ‘Storm’-y play )
Also on site :
- Salt Typhoon is hacking the world’s phone and internet giants. Here’s everywhere that’s been hit.
- Family of tragic Staffordshire youngster killed in crash on Lichfield A-road pay tribute to their 'beautiful young boy'
- Woman Notices Something Odd at Souvenir Machine—Then She Realizes: & 039;Lies!& 039;