OFF-BROADWAY REVIEW

It's always a pleasure to see anything at the Second Stage Off-Broadway space. They have a great theater and always put on fantastic pieces of theater. Many of their works feature celebrities and/or go on to become full-fledged Broadway shows. A common misconception with the line between Broadway and Off-Broadway is that off-Broadway isn't as good. This couldn't be further from the truth, and if you want a great example of an excellent Off-Broadway production that (if it wanted to) could easily be on Broadway.

Gruesome Playground Injuries features two fantastic performers, Jennifer Carpenter (best known for playing Dexter Morgan's sister Debra on the hit-television drama Dexter) and Pablo Schreiber (Awake and Sing!) who play Kayleen and Doug respectively. When the show opens, a single, hospital style bed is off-center on the stage. Moments later Kayleen appears in child's clothes. The audience spends a moment confused, until the screen behind the stage reads: Age Eight along with the injury Doug sustained prior to the beginning of the scene. I believe it said his face was busted open, but the truth is, that's not nearly as important as the fact that both of these actors managed to portray an eight year old child with ease. Obviously, neither of them are anywhere near childhood, but every motion, every vocal inflection, the way they interacted with one another and more importantly the way they interacted with themselves spoke of a young child. Anyone who has ever been around a young girl recognizes the way she may tug at her shirt. A young boy may not have complete control over his hands when in pain. It was a stunning scene and that was only the beginning of the show.

As the first scene and the show progress, we get an interesting look at two people who became platonic friends at a very young age. They may or may not have been in love with one another all along, but their entire relationship is framed by the injuries that Doug seems to inflict on himself. He calls himself "brave" every time Kayleen calls him "stupid," not believing that of the times he has tried to light a firecracker too close to his face, or ride his bike off the room of their elementary school that he was being reckless. To him, it's just a way to test himself, to test this life we all lead. He knows Kayleen will always be there to help clean his wounds and pick up the pieces of his broken existence.

Kayleen, for all her healing powers when it comes to Doug, can't seem to heal herself. She's got a whole host of physical and emotional issues that she relates to each of her parents and the longing for a closer relationship with them, or anyone for that matter.

Although the set is pure white, meant to give the feeling of a hospital room, drawers lining each side which house the costume changes for Doug and Kayleen, you never feel like it's cold. It changes from the school nurse's office, to a morgue, to a hospital and back around again. There is a through line, but not a through time line. We may start at eight, jump to twenty three, go back to fifteen or eighteen, thirty three and so forth. With each age, it is miraculous to see how they put on not only a new costume, but a new way of being as well. Granted, they're always the same characters, and you can see that in them, but they act out different stages of life perfectly.

The script is beautifully written, each line was realistic and poignant at the same time. These were perfect performers to cast in these roles and every piece of this work came together in harmony. From set and costumes to script and performers this is an Off-Broadway show to be praised.

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