What I liked
What I didn't like
My overall impression
Written 10 years ago, A Steady Rain by Keith Huff is still salient today. Chicago cops and lifelong friends Denny and Joey find themselves down a rabbit hole after a disturbance call becomes life and career-shattering. This conventional but tightly woven script, with themes of loyalty and self-destruction, is given full life with nuanced performances by R.J. DeBard as the hot-tempered but gregarious Denny, and Andy Hoff as the calm and thoughtful Joey. Denny is the flashier of the two characters as his larger than life personality drive the plot, but Hoff holds his own, making Joey a steady vessel in the ceaseless rain.
Director John Kirby utilizes the space wisely and keeps the pace steady. Comprised of direct address monologues intertwined with in-the-moment scenes, we can visualize the other characters due to the sharp performances and staging. We’re taken from location to location through monologues, aided by striking projections on Mike Flannery’s effective set, Aaron Lyons’ haunting sound, and Donny Jackson’s evocative lighting.
