Humpty Dumpty
Chain Theatre
April 12, 2025
Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre
In Humpty Dumpty, playwright Eric Bogosian strips four
characters of everything they believe themselves to be, forcing them to face some
stark truths. The Chain Theatre production
spares no expense bringing this play to fruition. Scenic designer David Henderson creates an
isolated environment, complete with every rustic comfort that would send any
urbanite off the deep end. Director Ella
Jane New guides each cast member to find the breaking point for their character
as they unravel and face their flaws and weaknesses.
It is the year 2000. Four high-powered city dwellers decide to take a week off from everything and spend it in a rural town, hours away from their daily stress. No work. No phones. No computers. Max (played by Kirk Gostkowski) is eager to start his week vacation in this rustic, cozy environment. His wife, Nicole (played by Chritina Elise Perry), continues to connect to her office, answering calls and demanding they meet every deadline. Their friend, Troy (played by Gabriel Rysdahl), arrives with his girlfriend, Spoon (played by Marie Dinolan), and bags full of expensive gourmet foods and wine. When the power goes out, the handyman, Nat (played by Brandon Hughes), brings a lantern and supplies to get them through the next day or two. Nicole is freaked out by the loss of power, while Spoon finds it relaxing and grounding. As days go by with no electricity, yet sporadic and skeptical information from the outside world, each of them faces their breaking point. Nat leaves in a frustrated huff, then Spoon disappears. In a moment of weakness, Nicole asks Nat to stay at the house with her and Max, pushing them to face the truth about their relationship. When the lights come back on, nothing is the same.
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| Marie Dinolan, Gabriel Rysdahl, Kirk Gostkowski, & Christina Elise Perry Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre |
Kirk Gostkowski,
Christina Elise Perry, Gabriel Rysdahl, and Marie Dinolan do a brilliant job
establishing their high-powered characters in the opening scenes. They are all successful in their own right and
have no problem exhibiting their pride. Troy
is the most pompous and the first to crack.
Gabriel Rhysdahl genuinely plays this moment with a heightened
vulnerability and aggressiveness. Marie
Dinolan experiences Spoon’s downfall from the inside. She skillfully displays this implosion with subtle
panic. Brandon Hughes portrays Nat with
an underlying sense of danger and mystery.
The power shifts when he is left alone in the house with Max and
Nicole. In these scenes Kirk Gostkowki
and Christina Elise Perry strip the characters of Max and Nicole bare. Their emotions are raw. Their anxiety is high. Their terror is intense. The action goes way over the top, and Mr.
Gostkowski and Ms. Perry play these moments with daring honesty, bringing the
action to a sudden and stunning conclusion.
This is the New York premiere of Mr. Bogosian’s play, which was written twenty-five years ago. It remains fresh and relevant, especially in a time where technology rules our lives and uncertainty is waiting outside the door.
Humpty Dumpty is playing at Chain Theatre through May 3.
Domenick Danza
On a personal note: A special shout out the Stage Manager, Grace Loeb, and her crew for a great job on this very heavy prop show, which includes food.
