By D. A. Blackburn
It may seem hard to believe, but the Williamston Theatre opened its fourth season last Friday night. The years have flown by, but it's not just the march of time that's moving at a break-neck pace in Williamston. The young company's latest production, David Schulner's "An Infinite Ache," has a brisk quality about it, too.
The play is a single act, charged with dramatic momentum, which condenses the entire course of a tumultuous relationship into an hour-and-a-half – from the nerves of a first date, to the death of a long-loved spouse, and everything in between. The result is a mixed bag – at times extremely potent, in others disconcertingly frantic – but there's no denying that Williamston's production packs a heart-wrenching punch.
Director Tony Caselli has done much to give this rapid-fire work a healthy touch of genuine emotion, particularly when tackling the script's toughest material – the death of a child, infidelity and illness, among them. And his thoughtful blocking, his understanding of the work's characters and the drama that surrounds them, quite deftly keep these moments from getting lost in the shuffle of less impacting fodder as the play unfolds.
In terms of casting, Williamston's production is largely satisfying, though not flawless. Aral Gribble charges through the gauntlet of changing emotions with ease, finding all the right nuances to give his portrayal of Charles a genuine, believable quality.
But as his female counterpart, Hope, Jasmine Rivera performed with a rigid, at times mechanical delivery on opening night. Though she clearly understood the motivations that make her character tick, her performance lacked passion when judged against the intensity that Gribble delivered with a natural grace.
Schulner's script is a powder keg of emotion, but its broad-based themes and mass of material make the play feel like its wound a bit too tight. Gribble and Caselli, however, thrive in its tension, and in the end, Williamston sets off into its new season on good footing – even if it's in a pair of running shoes.
REVIEW:
'An Infinite Ache'
Williamston Theatre, 122 S. Putnam Rd., Williamston. Thursday-Sunday through Nov. 8. $18-$24. 517-655-7469. http://www.williamstontheatre.org
