What I liked
Who has not felt vulnerable? Out of control or afraid of death and aging? No, worries, although this pair of mobsters talk a good game, there is no threat of violence here and emotional violence is down to a minimum. Jack Stroud is disarming as an aging mobster with menace and bite, reality slowly dawning on him. Eric Blair is wonderful as a conflicted amanuensis, trying to be respectful and needing to stay on task. I really appreciated a chance to spend time in dramatic theatre that wasn’t a chapter from a memoir.
What I didn't like
My overall impression
This production really stands out among Fringe shows for drama. Audience is drawn up into an intimate piece exploring a quiet crisis in the lives of two mobsters. Jack Stroud and Eric Blair have great chemistry, giving performances that are both masculine and vulnerable. Austin Schumaker envelopes them in a soundscape that heightens the reality of a high-rise apartment that must be vacated. Nathan Ondracek directs this 1991 work with perfect pacing; a great ear for the rhythm of conversations. Don’t miss this!
