Review: ALL IS FAIR (OR OBLIVION WROUGHT)- A Promising Work-in-Progress Features a Stand-Out Performance

ALL IS FAIR (OR OBLIVION WROUGHT)/written & directed by Reed Arnold/Dorie Theatre @ The Complex/thru April 24, 2016

Idly Bent's world premiere of playwright Reed Arnold's ALL IS FAIR (OR OBLIVION WROUGHT) presents an intriguing perspective of a love triangle wrong on so many levels. With some judicious editing and a stronger directorial hand, this two-and-a-half-hour two-act would make a sleek, entertaining 90-minute one-act.

Dan and co-worker Heather advance way beyond a professional office relationship even after Heather announces her upcoming nuptials to Pete. What starts as a physical (non-sexual) encounter the first time, evolves into illicit hook-ups every time Pete goes out of town. Both admit (to themselves and to each other) to cheating on Pete, but continue carrying on in the office and in both their apartments convinced they can both just stop when Heather actually marries Pete.

Co-worker Vince, who's vying for the same promotion as Dan, pretends not to notice Dan and Heather's mutual "attraction" to each other. Dan's roommate Chris makes numerous futile attempts to persuade Dan to man up and take control of his deceitful and ill-fated situation.

Arnold as Dan and Sarah Elizabeth Johnston as Heather have much chemistry and spark in their eventual seduction scene. Their initial 'coy' flirtation and subsequent more serious scenes, however, contain too many dramatic pauses.

Michael Minto as Chris steals every scene he's in. Minto's naturalistic hyper-energy and assurance makes his stage presence quite formidable.

Ross Gallo's perfectly swarmy as the ambitious, treacherous Vince.

Kudos to Brian Cole for his basic, but versatile set morphing from Dan & Heather's office into Dan and Chris' living room. Lighting designer Rebecca Raines does what she can with the inflexible lighting equipment the Dorie Theatre provides, as Arnold spends most of the first scene out of his light.

allisfairplay.com