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Regional Reviews: Phoenix A Steady Rain Also see Gil's review of The Lion King
Sometimes comical, but always dark, Huff's play is the story of one oppressive summer of non-stop rain and the two policemen who get caught up in the events around them as they try to do their jobs to serve and protect on the rough streets of Chicago. Denny and Joey are lifelong friends who have been partners on the police force for many years but keep getting passed over for promotion to detective. The hot headed, racist Denny and the alcoholic Joey believe the color of their white skin is the reason, blaming the minority "quotas" on their inability to advance, but after spending two hours with them it's easy to see that their actions are most likely to blame. And while their lack of promotions is only a sliver of the play, it is the underlying component that gnaws away at the two men. A Steady Rain is also, ultimately, the story of how a simple mistake has horrible, reverberating circumstances that wear down the bond of friendship these two men have and forces the downward spiral of one partner and the almost rebirth of the other. Denny is trying to do what is best for his wife and children. He does what he can to make extra money, often in illegal ways, like taking money from prostitutes to protect them. But he also makes sure that the single Joey comes over for dinner every night as a way to keep him away from the bottle. And, while Denny keeps saying that he is only doing what he's doing for his wife and children, he has a very skewed reality of what is the appropriate behavior in being loyal toward your loved ones, especially when that behavior becomes destructive. Joey, on the other hand, is more rational but also one to sometimes cross the line between what is right and wrong. Unlike Denny, he has plenty of guilt that often stops him from doing illegal things, instead holding on to maintaining protocol. While he tries to keep Denny in line, especially around the many racist comments Denny makes, he finds himself being pulled into the dark world that Denny seems to relish. The play begins with a bullet being shot into Denny's house. That shot is the catalyst for a series of successive events that draw Denny and Joey deeper and deeper into the dark world of pimps, prostitutes, drugs, torture, car chases and gun fights. Huff has done a fine job in writing a play that at its core is a morality tale of good cop versus bad cop, and sometimes bad cop versus bad cop, but it is also a complex story of two friends and the obstacles they encounter that ultimately test their friendship and their loyalty. I'm being somewhat vague with the specific events of the plot as the less you know beforehand, the better. I also wisely advise you to not read the notes in the playbill that give away a key plot element. The cast includes Joseph Kremer as Denny and Christopher Haines as Joey. Kremer does a very good job at showing Denny's sweet side along with the side of him that becomes irrational when in the heat of the moment he acts out, becomes abusive or, even worse, kills someone. Kremer is appropriately intense and easily gets across the "leader" Denny plays in his partnership with Joey. Haines, while older than Kremer, is also softer spoken, more tender, and definitely more caring. But he also perfectly depicts the dilemma of going by the book versus doing what is needed to help your friend, even if that's doing something illegal. His level-headed approach to the part is perfect. He is also shorter than Kremer, which helps him easily assume the "follower" role. While neither of them look like the stereotypical cop, they believably play two men who have known each other for years and have seen each other through good times and bad. While they both occasionally got tripped up over some bits of dialogue, and there is a lot of dialogue, they both easily alternate between delivering the monologues and the many reenactments of key plot turns that required them to really throw themselves into their parts. For a play with only two characters and the most minimal of sets, there is a lot that happens in A Steady Rain and director Anthony Runfola does an excellent job of combining the overlapping monologues, including several that appear to be from interrogations, with the many flashback moments to keep the action at a fever pitch. I especially like the direction of the actors' reaction moments as the other character is giving a monologue—in the second half, just watch Kremer's reactions to some of Haines' more incriminating comments. Originally a one-act 90-minute play, the Actors Theatre production wisely adds an intermission to allow the audience, and the two actors, to catch a breath. Creative elements are appropriately well reserved to let the dialogue and plot crackle, with Jeff Thomson's set design composed of basic black walls and only a desk and two chairs. Joey Trahan's sound design is nuanced with just the right amount of effects, including a nice rain sound, to not overburden the production. Lois K. Myers' costumes are character appropriate, with Joey wearing a suit as if he is dressed up for an interrogation and Denny wearing a somewhat "loud" red dress shirt, which fits perfectly with what his character would think is appropriate for an interrogation, though it looks very inappropriate. Paul A. Black does a fine job with the lighting design, taking us to and helping us imagine the multitude of locations in the story, something not that easily done when there is only a minimal set and virtually no prop pieces. This Actors Theatre of Phoenix production is their first after taking what they are calling a "pause" last January after a loss of grant monies and the cancellation of two shows last spring. They are looking at this period as a way to focus on a new business model and their mission of presenting thought-provoking and risk-taking plays that get people talking. A Steady Rain and the two other plays they've announced for this season, 4,000 Miles and Good People (with one play still "TBD"), are all well-written, provocative plays with themes that will definitely get people talking. Their production of A Steady Rain is well directed with two good actors and is definitely an edgy, risk taking production that had people talking at the opening night performance I attended. So the Actors Theatre of Phoenix is off to a great start after their "pause." The Actors Theatre of Phoenix A Steady Rain, through November 10th at the Playhouse on the Park at Viad Corporate Center, 1850 North Central Ave in Phoenix. Tickets can be purchased by calling (602) 888-0368 or at actorstheatrephx.org. Director: Anthony Runfola
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