Austin

Austin

The Lion Theatre

Midnight Lunch Productions

August 25, 2016

Photo courtesy of Midnight Lunch Productions

Austin: A Summer Night’s Dream in Hell’s Kitchen is an intense play written by Edla Cusick presently running Off Broadway at the Lion Theatre.  Thomas G. Waites creates an optimistic and haunted character in the title role.  He is charming and energetic when he first enters, then gradually breaks your heart as he reveals his well-hidden secrets.  James McCaffrey delivers a strong performance as his brother Martin.  He is patient and stern, forgiving and hurtful.  Together their performances make this interesting, yet flawed script into a worthwhile play.

Thomas G. Waites & James McCaffrey
Photo courtesy of Midnight Lunch Productions

Austin (played by Thomas G. Waites) returns from his seventh rehab looking to reconnect with his ex-wife, Petra (played by Rochelle Bostrom), and his sixteen year old daughter, Dory (played by Michaela Waites).  Little does he know that Petra is having an affair with his brother Matt (played by James McCaffrey), and Dory is out of control.  Austin is staying with Matt in his Hell’s Kitchen brownstone and planting a garden as part of his rehab therapy.  When Andy, Austin’s counselor (played by AJ Cedeno), visits to help get the garden started, Austin faces his homosexuality and takes a serious look at the scars of his upbringing.

Thomas G. Waites & AJ Cedeno
Photo courtesy of Midnight Lunch Productions

The characters of Austin and Matt are well developed and believable.  They both have shocking backstories that keep the action of the play moving forward.  Ms. Cusick’s script is, however, weighted down with exposition and inconsistencies in the characters of Dory and Andy that make the play difficult to buy into.  The set design by Tsubasa Kamel successfully transforms the very small stage of the Lion Theatre into numerous locations smoothly and realistically. 

Austin is produced by Midnight Lunch Productions and will be running at the Lion Theatre on Theatre Row through September 10.

Domenick Danza