‘Etched Glass Decanter’ is intimate, harrowing theater | Theater
The efficiency, introduced within the theater of the Spirit Room, asks audiences to droop their disbelief completely, with a restricted manufacturing in scope and measurement. Many props are merely talked about and mimed, whereas others are positioned firmly within the actor’s fingers, all in a room so intimate their textures and particulars may be clearly seen.
The closeness inherent on this little facet room of a theater can’t be overstated, and it stands to tremendously profit the performances whereas permitting smaller questionable selections to be examined intimately. Alyssa Poom’s costuming, for example, is mostly good, with the characters current concurrently in a interval lengthy gone and out of time completely. The astronomer, performed by Reid Watson, is seemingly wearing a easy interval jacket over a t-shirt and denims, a choice which feels misplaced as he sits throughout a spirit dressed head to toe in otherworldly garb.
Lighting, accomplished primarily with LEDs, is executed with subtlety, nonetheless the instances during which it might have been used to nice impact are sorely missed alternatives. When the actors are describing good swirling oceans of colours, the potential of permitting the lights to ebb and circulate between hues seems to have escaped the staff behind the manufacturing.
As beforehand talked about, “ Etched Glass Decanter” is carried by its solid, with Leah Schwartz’s efficiency as The Astronomer’s Spouse standing out amongst them. Whereas Watson seems to be reciting his strains as a sonnet as a lot as he’s appearing them, Schwartz presents a grounding presence, one not but given into the insanity that permeates these scenes.
Watson’s efficiency because the Poe-esque Astronomer is nothing to disregard, nonetheless. Particularly whereas alone on stage, he presents a definite insanity which echoes all through the room. The efficiency serves as an unsettling reminder to viewers members that they’re all in a room with this madman and his spirits. The horror just isn’t solely occurring straight earlier than their eyes, however inside attain of their fingertips.
Whereas the actors all gaze previous the viewers as they play their components, moments of direct eye contact handle to permeate your very soul once they occur. Strains might not all be directed at one particular person, however when they’re, there’s a shiver which may be felt creeping its means up, vertebrae by vertebrae.
Although solely half one among “Etched Glass Decanter” is introduced for Fringe Fest audiences, the performances right here stand out as a must-see. Extra performances might be obtainable on Sept. 20 at 6 p.m., Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. in The Spirit Room’s Conjure Field at 139 State St.
This story is a part of CITY’s partnership with the scholars of S.I. Newhouse College of Public Communications’ Goldring Arts Journalism program at Syracuse College.
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