'Blackbird' Sings
Beowulf Alley's harrowing drama goes straight into the heart of darkness
by Nathan ChristensenWhether you choose to see Blackbird for its gritty subject matter, its passionate performances or its artistic value, there's a good chance you will emerge a better person for having done so.
The joy of seeing something well-crafted. A gritty drama gives good actors plenty to work with. Director Laura Lippman has carefully choreographed the ebb and flow of this demanding work, building highs and lows as Almquist and Leadon Sonnenfelt circle and corner each other around the set.
Designed by Kate Natale with scenic painting by Bill Galbreath, the trashed break-room set is almost a third character in the play.
Almquist and Leadon Sonnenfelt keep the proceedings from going off the rails by offering complex, flawed and ultimately sympathetic characters.
The balance of power and the perception of good and evil shift back and forth throughout the play, which begins as Ray (Art Almquist) propels Una (Elizabeth Leadon Sonnenfelt) into a filthy break room at his office... Almquist has an earnest, appealing presence, which makes his character sympathetic in spite of his past... Leadon Sonnenfelt somehow keeps all of her character's inconsistencies in the air at once. She's a predator as well as a child trapped in an adult body; she's vulnerable and dangerous; she's vengeful; and she's deeply in love.
A good drama expands our emotional strength and endurance, and builds our capacity for compassion... Believe it or not, a tragedy can leave you feeling hopeful.
- Elizabeth Leadon Sonnenfelt and Art Almquist in Beowulf Alley Theatre Company's Blackbird.
Read the entire review here... 'Blackbird' Sings | Review | Tucson Weekly
