Wang Dang

Snakeskin Jacket—Studio 320

Snakeskin Jacket always takes risks with their Fringe productions, and you can always count on a high level of professionalism. Last night’s near-sellout (I saw one empty seat) shows that taking risks can pay off if you do your homework.

Tom Noonan’s plays have a unique style, just as do those of Harold Pinter. And although Noonan does not use the long pauses or some other elements of Pinter, both playwrights feature a skewed reality and psychological undercurrents that bubble to the surface constantly, if you will forgive the cliché.

Like The Homecoming, Wang Dang is a battle of wits between the characters, as each takes a turn trying to be top dog. Each character is a match for the others, and as an audience member I had to constantly reassess what was going on. Was a character acting honestly, or playing a game with the others? Not every audience member wants to play that game, but it pays rewards if you are willing.

The cast did a fine job with this difficult work, almost always keeping the game afoot. The venue also worked well, although a slightly larger space would allow more people to enjoy this work and give the audience slightly more physical distance from the action, improving sight lines.

Kevin Longfield