LaBute Festival showcases new provocative plays

Take off the rose-colored glasses and look at different aspects of human nature, as seen through the eyes of prolific playwright Neil LaBute and emerging provocative writers.

LaBute, who peers into the blackness of men’s souls and writes clearly about good and evil, presents his distinctive style, as well as the contest winners, over the next few weekends at the LaBute New Play Festival. He will attend the July 24, performance.

Three years ago, the distinguished writer (“The Shape of Things”) agreed to participate, not just lend his name, to the festival through St. Louis Actors’ Studio. He is on the jury panel that selects a group of one-act plays from submissions globally. The committee sifted through 250 submissions to come up with this year’s lineup, a strong mix of distinctive tones and tempos. One slate runs two weekends, the other the following two, but LaBute’s must-see work is performed throughout all four.

A powerful one-man monologue, LaBute’s world premier of “Kandahar” kicks off the evening, showcasing his masterful skills with language. Michael Hogan, a New York actor who grew up in St. Louis, smoothly slips into the full metal jacket of a soldier being interrogated about mayhem he caused while recently back home from Afghanistan. Riveting as he chillingly chronicles the character’s sad and disturbing reasons for his rage, Hogan deftly captures LaBute’s nuances. It’s an unforgettable performance and a gut-wrenching tale.

The other five one-acts aren’t as intense, but all feature fine turns by local actors. The best is “Cold in Hand,” an intriguing encounter between an old blind musician and a young man singing the blues on a street corner. Directed fluidly by Christopher Limber, the character study brings up some assumptions about race as Don McClendon as Razz and Rynier Gaffney as Luke learn about each other. Steve Apostolina of Los Angeles wrote in a genuinely moving style, and the performers suit the characters perfectly.

While the play takes too long to get to its point, Chicago playwright Mark Young’s conversational “Custom” features two outstanding stage veterans, GP Hunsaker and Nathan Bush, crafting lived-in characters as they disclose details and personality tics. Hunsaker convincingly plays an old-school jeweler discussing a transaction with a talkative, inquisitive young man Robert, adroitly portrayed by Bush. It’s a poignant look at how choices affect other lives.

Bush, of Edwardsville, is again at home with Alicia Smith in “Stand Up for Oneself” by Lexi Wolfe of London, slyly directed by John Pierson. Bush is Lucas, an older party wallflower entranced by Lila, a much younger free-spirited guest. Their lives are unconventional and their smart banter is as much about the mating ritual as it is about judging books by their covers.

“A Stranger Here Myself” by Rich Orloff is a humorous sexually adventurous piece involving a stressed-out single mom’s fantasies while on a business trip. You know you’re in for an amusing piece when the lead-in music is a marching band rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “Sexually Healing.” Kudos to director John Pierson for his light touch. Jenny Smith is funny and fearless as Patricia, with a tuxedo-clad Paul Cereghino comical as a studly movie star. Don McClendon and Stephanie Benware have fun with their brief roles as well.

Not as successful is “A Taste of Heaven” by Chris Holbrook of San Francisco. Clever but at times confusing, the play nails the frustrations of government bureaucracy while trying to be “Twilight Zone” in its twists. Director B Weller benefits from three capable players, with chipper Nancy Crouse headlining as a retiree declared dead via letter. Kevin Minor excels as the impersonal office guy, as does Rhyan Robinson as the no-nonsense Functionary. The play suffers from revealing the plot twist too late, but has its moments.

Technically, the evening is polished, with a nifty uni-purpose set designed by Patrick Huber imaginatively used for each piece. Huber’s skills as sound and lighting designer are also evident.

Truly one of the best events on the local arts scene, the LaBute Festival is growing each year. For those who want to see vibrant artistic expression, head over to the Central West End and the charming black box at the Gaslight Theater.

This story was originally published July 14, 2015 at 11:36 AM with the headline "LaBute Festival showcases new provocative plays."