Inspired by True Events

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Actor Ryan Spahn’s first play Inspired by True Events at the new Theatre 154 (formerly the Ohio Space) is a professional, skillful production. Unfortunately, as a backstage thriller it leaves something to be desired. The first shock does not occur until two-thirds of the way through, making most of the play a simple waiting game for something to happen. What the playwright needs is to study classic stage thrillers like Emlyn Williams’ Night Must Fall and Frederick Knott’s Wait Until Dark to learn how suspense is built into this genre.

The play is based on a true story that occurred in California, here transferred to a community theater in downtown Rochester, with other facts changed. The production’s real surprise is that it is performed in the actual green room of the theater (seating 35 people at a time) giving the play a verisimilitude that few productions have. Colin arrives at the first performance following the theater’s opening night of the fictional When Tragedy Comes Home in an unbalanced and unstable state which is immediately noticed by stage manager Mary, a sort of den mother to the cast. When the other actors Eileen and Robert arrive they notice a strange smell. It is not until the three of them find Colin’s gym bag leaking something that they suspect a crime.

The only other foreshadowing is the mention of a sound in the air vent, which they assume to be a new infestation of mice. As sound designer Peter Mills Weiss has only used a noticeable thud once, this does not work as a clue. For the first 55 minutes, the play proceeds at a normal pace with the actors putting on makeup and changing into their costumes as they talk about their day up to that point and the party the night before.

Even after the first shock, director Knud Adams (who staged both the most recent Pulitzer Prize winners English and Primary Trust) fails to turn up the heat so that the play never catches fire. The quartet of actors are fine in their respective roles but can’t do much with characters that are basically one note: Jack DiFalco as an overwrought Colin, Dana Scurlock as a calm, compassionate Mary, Mallory Portnoy as a complaining Eileen and Lou Liberatore as a fussy Robert. Once we know what happened there isn’t much to wait for as Spahn has written his play. This is more of backstage drama than a certified thriller which is what it pretends to be.

Lindsay G. Fuori’s setting makes use of the actual green room with refrigerator, microwave, sofa, makeup table, etc., of the theater. This features a huge mirror which reflects part of the audience and ought to be distracting but isn’t. The set cleverly includes a monitor which shows us the action on stage in the play within the play but without the sound turned on. The casual contemporary clothing for the actors as themselves and as their onstage costumes for the play within the play by Siena Zoë Allen are realistic but unmemorable. Strangely Paige Seber’s lighting is quite muted which seems unrealistic for getting made up – unless it is intended to keep the spill from reaching the theater’s stage.

Inspired by True Events offers an interesting premise of an actor going onstage after committing a gruesome crime. However, first-time playwright Ryan Spahn does not seem to know much about tension or foreshadowing. Director Knud Adams has not realized that the speed has to be increased to indicate panic or alarm. Unfortunately, the pace remains the same throughout. However, the quartet of actors (Jack DiFalco, Lou Liberatore, Mallory Portnoy and Dana Scurlock) does their best to bring their underwritten roles to life.

Inspired by True Events (extended through August 4, 2024)

Out of the Box Theatrics

Theatre 154, 154 Christopher Street, in Manhattan

For tickets, visit http://www.ootbtheatrics.com

Running time: 90 minutes without an intermission