SideReal Theater Company presents "Touch" at Center Stage

It’s unfortunately familiar and decidedly uncomfortable, a story ripped from today’s headlines and much too common —a young wife goes missing, and is later found to have been abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered, her body buried in the wilderness.

One doesn’t have to watch the TV news channels to hear about these things, due to the prevalence of primetime network shows such as CSI, Law & Order, and 20/20. It might be de-sensitizing, at the very least, even if you’ve only watched these shows a few times. No matter what your exposure is to such gory headlines, you can't help but wonder "what would I do in this situation?" or, at the least, you think you have a feeling for how these tragedies generally play out.

The actors in this production (Davis Banta, April Bennett, Max Bennett-Parker, and Emily Garber) seem competent enough even though tasked with the unenviable job of engaging in some truly heart-wrenching dialogue. However, there are several times throughout the performance where they seemed hampered by murky lighting, awkward pacing, and having to shout out their lines over loud music.

In the role of the young widower, astronomer Kyle Kalke, Davis Banta is appropriately neurotic and self-effacing, and definitely passionate about his two loves -- his wife, Zoe, and astronomy. Max Bennett-Parker plays the part of Kyle's supportive and patient friend, Bennie. Perhaps not as sympathetic but still engaging are the characters of Kyle's sister-in-law, Serena (Emily Garber) and the prostitute-turned-love connection Kathleen (April Bennett).

The story follows the discovery of the horrific crime by Kyle, featuring what seemed (to me, at least) to be a rather implausible scene that takes Kyle and Bennie to an Indian reservation where they uncover the body, buried beneath stones; at this point no one has alerted the authorities. There are a few twists that come later in the plot, and finally, finally, in the second act, one surmises the reason that this play is titled "Touch."

Perhaps the lighting and blocking and minimal set pieces are designed mainly to ensure that we, the audience, remain in that space of edgy discomfort throughout; we are forced to remember that this is NOT a TV drama with the benefit of a dramatic musical soundtrack and flashy camera angles. We can focus on then what transpires to be a truly human and sorrowful story and hope for eventual forgiveness and healing for all concerned parties.

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TOUCH
by Toni Press-Coffman

Directed by Bill Peters
Center Stage, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
June 14th though June 23rd
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 7pm
Tickets available at www.brownpapertickets.com
www.siderealtheater.com