BWW Reviews: THE CUT at Open Circle Theater

Open Circle Theater continues their track record of bringing slightly off theater to the Seattle area with the world premiere of "The Cut" by local playwright Dustin Engstrom.  Even though the show's subject matter, a very specific sexual fetish, might make some people shy away, the show takes this out there subject and infuses it and its characters with human frailty and tons of heart.

Based on the memoir, "Shorn: Toys to Men" by Dennis Milam Bensie, the show follows Derick, a young man who grows up with a fetish that few would understand or even have heard of.  Derick becomes sexually aroused by shaving the heads (and mustaches) of men.  But throughout he finds it difficult to share this with anyone except his best friend from childhood, a doll named Stefeny.  So as he grows up, Derick finds himself satisfying his fetish at first by meeting anonymous strangers in parks and such and eventually by hiring hustlers to let him cut their hair.  This path he has forced himself down spirals out of control until he finds himself broke, beaten and eventually blackmailed all for the sake of a compulsion he cannot seem to curb.

From the get go, this play has three major obstacles to overcome.  One, the subject matter.  As I said, before, this is a hard sell.  Two, the fact that it's a biography.  Bio-plays are difficult at best as you are dealing with a person's life and so how do you come up with an engaging story arc.  And three, the task of not letting the play become maudlin and repetitive as the character continues his descent.  Fortunately all of this and so much more are deftly handled by one of Seattle's best playwrights, Dustin Engstrom.  He shows himself to be able to handle the most difficult of subjects.  His structure of the story is never mired down into pity but only helps to illuminate what has brought this character to his dilemma.  All the while portraying him not as a victim or someone to be reviled but as a sincere and flawed human and a very genuine protagonist.  Furthermore Engstrom's crisp, clean and naturally flowing dialogue reveals him to be a true wordsmith and makes the show even more engaging.  Now I'm sure much of the interest and heart of the story can be attributed to the fascinating source memoir from Bensie but it's only made that much richer from the storytelling skills of Engstrom.

The sublime ensemble cast is more than up to the task of portraying these intriguing characters.  And while all of them are wonderful, I must mention a few stand outs.  Michael LaDell Harris turns in a very subtle performance as Derick.  Never fully showing his hand, he still manages to get the audience completely on his side.  Monica Wulzen is a delight as the embodiment of the doll, Stefeny.  As she prances around the stage in her nude body stocking she never once lets her character become static or one note.  Scott Shoemaker turns in some amazingly varied characters as Derick's flamboyant roommate Jake as well as Derick's ultra strict father.  Shoemaker completely transforms himself into his characters and manages not to become cliché or stereotypical.  And Todd van der Ark switches with ease from jaded and desperate hustler to hilarious phone operator each with its own over abundance of stage presence.

Complete with stunning direction from Gary Zinter which only lends even more brilliant storytelling to the mix, and some of the best wigs I've seen to transform the various characters in this intimate space from author Bensie (but then he did end up making his career as a very successful theatrical wig designer), the show is edgy, touching, engaging and oh so heartfelt and ultimately the best thing I've seen so far this year.  Due to its frank and sexual nature and brief nudity you might want to leave the kids at home for this one.  But do yourself a favor and get out to catch this fresh and winning new work before it's gone.

"The Cut" plays at Open Circle Theater through February 5^th.  For tickets or information contact Open Circle Theater at 206-382-4250 or visit them online at www.octheater.com.

Photo credit: David Wulzen

 

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