Broken Snow

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Ben Andron’s Broken Snow has an interesting premise: two half-brothers who never knew of the other’s existence meet in an abandoned house which was their father’s last known address. The father has recently died and both men want some answers to his mysterious life. In flashbacks, we meet Kris, that father, played by television star Tony Danza. Unfortunately, much of the mystery remains at the end of the play, with too much repetitious dialogue before we get where the play is going. If this had been played as an outright thriller, it might have generated some real tension. Under Colin Hanlon’s leisurely direction, the play takes too long to build up any steam. Don’t blame the three actors who have to deal with underwritten roles with too much left to our imaginations.

Steven and James meet in an abandoned house. Claiming to be an officer of the law, Steven demands to know what James is doing since he has no title to the house. James who has been ransacking the house looking for something refuses to believe him and pulls a gun. But Steven is an officer of the law and he disarms him. Little by little they discover that they are half-brothers (their irresponsible father Kris left Steven’s mother when he was born, and he was stuck with baby James when his wife died in childbirth.) Not only has Steven only met his father once when he was 24 years old, but he has not known of James’ existence nor James of him.

As they try to put their father’s life and their own stories together, there are flashbacks: the one time that Steven met Kris in a café, James’ remembrance of his eighth birthday, etc. Eventually it comes down to the contents of a cigar box which Kris has left to both sons separately. What is the meaning of the photos in the box and how does it connect with Kris’ life? And when they think they have put their father’s story together can they live with the shocking tale that they deduce?

Danza appears occasionally as the sinister Kris with some deep dark secret in his past. He is fine but he does not have enough to reveal. The problem with the play is that we are never given enough details and characters go over the same material again and again. There is an entire play in the stories that go untold, nor do we really know either of the sons by the end. We learn more about Steven played by Tom Cavanagh, married with one daughter, studied law but then went into law enforcement, brought up by a single mother, knew his father had died a little more than a week ago. James played by Michael Longfellow is as much of an enigma as his late father. We do not know what he has been doing since he put distance between himself and his father but considering he carries a gun, we suspect it has been something nefarious. Neither Cavanagh nor Longfellow inhabit their characters because as written they are paper thin with far too few details.

Aside from some snow late in the play, Scott Adam Davis’ set is suitable, but does little to differentiate the flashbacks from the scenes in the present, as all feel like they are taking place in the abandoned house where neither son has visited before. This may be the fault of Jeff Croiter’s lighting which would also have been more effective if it had it filled the stage with film noirish shadows. The bland costumes by Lisa Zinni tell us little or nothing about these people though she does not have much to go on. Bill Toles’ sound design offers melancholy, sad music though none of it is scary in the manner of a Hitchcock film.

Ben Andron’s Broken Snow has an interesting idea but needs much more filling out. Not only are the actors not given enough to do, the audience is left at sea most of the time. While the cast is convincing in their roles, there is only so much they can do with a lack of information. The author obviously wants to keep some secrets until the end, but he needs to give us more to go on than the little that is offered. Danza who has great stage presence needs a stronger vehicle for his talents in his next stage outing. The title which turns out to be  a metaphor is explained in the very last lines.

Broken Snow (through May 24, 2026)

New York Rep

For tickets, visit http://www.todaytix.com/nyc/shows/46816-broken-snow

Running time: one hour and 20 minutes without an intermission