CVRep’s second presentation this season is “SUMMER SESSION WITH THE BONES BRIGADE“ by Kirby Fields. The play, part of the organization’s ORIGINS New Works Development Program, was the winning new work chosen from the many entries received and as the winner, it received the fully staged production now playing.
Set in the summer of 1988, in a rural section of the Midwest, the play centers on four young men seriously into skateboarding and the two girls hovering around them.
Shane (Bonale Fambrini) is the unofficial leader of the group. Heath (Ethan Zeph) is the perpetual hunky bad boy and is proud of it. qDK (Akiyo Komatsu) has recently moved back to town and wants to become someone he wasn’t before. Lee (Alex Michell) takes a constant stream of Polaroid pictures with a camera given to him by his now-late father as a desperate attempt to keep their relationship alive. The two girls caught in this quartet’s field of gravity are Sid (Madeleine D. Hall) playing fast and easy and Loralai (Keeley Karsten), Sid’s opposite.
After a joyous 4th of July evening, their blissful summer is shattered with frightening news that hits close to home. It causes emotions to flare and rifts in friendships while new alliances are formed.
Under the skillful direction of CVRep’s artistic director, Adam Karsten, SUMMER SESSION WITH THE BONES BRIGADE is visually wonderful and extremely well-acted. Each cast member delivers a strong and emotionally touching performance. There are several highly effective moments where internal emotions are expressed via modern dance breaks staged by Karen Sieber and executed powerfully by the 6 member cast. Some of the ensemble even get to demonstrate their skills at skateboarding on the fascinating forest set designed by Jimmy Cuomo with video projections by Nick Wass and exquisite lighting designed by Moira Wilkie.
My one major criticism is not with the production but with the play itself. Although there are many dramatic and emotionally strong moments, the play still feels like a work in development. The first act is basically devoted to character development with little happening in terms of what could be called a ‘plot’ until the very end of the act. Conversely, the confessions and events of the second act seem to come almost rapid fire, especially when compared to the first act. With some prudent edits, especially in Act I and some stronger set-ups in the second act, SUMMER SESSION WITH THE BONES BRIGADE could go from the interesting play that it is to a truly powerful examination of youth’s feelings of love, betrayal and dreams.
SUMMER SESSION WITH THE BONES BRIGADE is running now through December 17, 2923. For tickets or further information visit their website at www.CVRep.org.