BWW Reviews: CATF: ON CLOVER ROAD is an On-The-Edge-of-Your-Seat Experience

Exquisitely directed by Ed Herendeen with a strong script by Steven Dietz, On Clover Road at CATF is truly an edge-of-your-seat thriller which leaves the audience guessing and gasping at every new suspenseful situation.

On Clover Road begins when Kate meets the shady, private investigator Stine in a run-down, abandoned motel in the middle of nowhere, America. Kate is a single mother whose daughter ran away from home four years ago and has been missing ever since. Through extensive searching, Kate tracks down Stine, a detective who operates outside of the law and discovers her daughter has joined a cult. Stine is about to bring Kate's daughter to meet her mother in the motel and warns Kate that his methods are extremely violent and unconventional and that Kate should prepare to not recognize her own daughter upon their reunion. What happens next is a heart-racing story about how far one mother will go to reunite with her daughter and how long a person can rely on their memories until it leads them to danger.

Tasha Lawrence gives a standout performance as desperate mother Kate. Her character was a mess of contradictions, all expertly displayed, and Lawrence had an enormous emotional arch to cover throughout the course of the show, in addition to the most physically challenging role. Her mother was a woman immensely fragile and vulnerable after spending years blaming herself for her daughter's disappearance, yet still intensely powerful and determined in her actions as the show progressed.

Lee Sellars was phenomenal as gruff private investigator Stine. His menacing presence, gravely character voice and wonderfully crass sense of humor at first formed an instantly unlikeable character who gradually evolved. His sharp timing and no-nonsense demeanor instantly took control of the scene each time he entered and he impressively handled a shocking transition in Act II.

Molly Carden, billed as "A Girl" rescued from the cult and believed to be Kate's daughter, was a typical obnoxious teenager in duress at first, but eventually showed the traumatic effects of her brainwashed obedience while in the cult. Carden exhibited a helpless desperation with a quiet, resolute strength deep down.

Tom Coiner as the cult leader or "The Prophet", Harris, was incredibly clean cut and creepy. In a smaller but equally psychotic role, Coiner made the audience generally afraid and definitely uncomfortable at some points, expertly inhabiting a difficult yet suave character. Molly Brown as the other Girl was innocently haunting and fragile, yet frightening in a small but vital role near the end of the show.

The special effects in On Clover Road are exceptional. Faced with the challenge of making some bodily injuries, restraints and fight choreography visible, believable and appropriately shocking on a large proscenium stage in a 300-plus seat house, the CATF team more than rises to the occasion. All of the fight choreography is shockingly realistic, without ever making the audience worry the actors are actually in danger or in truly unsafe situations, which is not an easy accomplishment. The excellent effects and physical combat only add to the adrenaline pumping suspense throughout the entire show.

On Clover Road continues to run as one of the five plays in rotating repertory at the Contemporary American Theater Festival. On Clover Road performances occur in the Frank Center Theater on the campus of Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV. The final performance occurs August 2 at 2:00 PM. For more information about the show schedule, the 2015 season or to order tickets, please visit www.catf.org.

Photo Credit: CATF Media Gallery

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