BWW Reviews: You Can Hear America Singing in BURNING IN THE NIGHT

BURNING IN THE NIGHT: A HOBO'S SONG is as fine a piece of theatrical artistry as one will find in the Valley of the Sun. It is poetry in locomotion, evoking a way of life that, while often perilous, was the elixir of freedom and discovery that spurred many a young man to abandon his quotidian comforts and rituals and submit himself to the siren call of the one-eyed locomotive god.

On stage at the Mesa Arts Center from February 6th-8th and continuing on February 13th at Theater Works in Peoria, Richard Warren's brilliant adaptation of Dale Wasserman's epic memoir, directed by Dan Schay and masterfully performed by Mike Lawler, needs to be seen not only for the quality of the production but also for the sweet and compelling reminder of freedom's real meaning.

As the prototypical Hobo, Mr. Lawler is the perfect story spinner, transporting ~ at times jauntily, at times wistfully ~ his audience along the rails of Wasserman's travels. Explaining how and why one becomes a hobo. Differentiating the hobo from a tramp or a bum ~ a hobo is a wanderer who works. Reflecting on the discovery of the difference between carefree and careless. Revealing such essential train-hopping skills as flipping a freight. Reminiscing about an ill-advised and harrowing ride on a meat train from which he emerges hobo cum laude. It is a monumental and stirring performance, culminating in an epiphany about the true meaning of freedom that cuts to the soul.

With an astute selection of songs from Smithsonian Folkways, Mr. Warren has woven into the fabric of this play a bluegrass musicality that enriches and complements Mr. Lawler's narrative. This work of poetic beauty is delivered by the Jam Pak Blues 'N' Grass Neighborhood Band/A Music Community, featuring Mark Hickler, Giselle Lee, and Francisco Briseno.

Thanks to a remarkable collaboration of artists, we can hear America singing!

Photo credit to Bo Allen