THE PLAY: An HIV+ gay man feels guilty about surviving many of his contemporaries (hence, the title). After more than a week sequestered in his apartment, his brother and father drop by to check on him.
THE PRODUCTION: The first quiet minutes are spent with Andrew Firda alone on stage. As each member of the cast arrives, the energy rises until Alan Sader (as the father) completes the quartet. Firda effectively captures the beleaguered distress of his character with underplayed assurance. Stevie Rice (as his partner) surpasses the chorus boy stereotype with tender moments later in the play. Andrew C. Boothby gives one of his most genuine and assured performances as the brother, but it’s Sader’s creation that stands out. With effortless mastery (and a perfect accent), he inhabits the character and is exceptional without being showy. Director Keith Fitzgerald has forged a cast with an easy familial rapport. After getting off to a slow start, the momentum builds to a genuinely affecting ending. David Allan Ballas has designed an attractive (and surprisingly large) apartment and Andrew Bonniwell’s lighting adds depth and drama to the simple scheme.
THE POINT: This seemingly slight play is given depth and meaning by a fine cast that centers around Alan Sader’s exceptional performance.
(4 / 5)
At Richmond Triangle Players thru 3/19
