Ken Urban’s The Awake is a disturbing and darkly humorous take on the latent hypocrisies of American society, told through three disparate storylines. Showing at 59E59 Theaters and featuring an ensemble cast that includes Maulik Pancholy, perhaps best known for his role as Jonathan on 30 Rock, the play slowly forges links between all the characters through a mixture or real-life and dream sequences. Lori Prince is Gabrielle, a wife, hospital volunteer, and immigrant from an unspecified Eastern European country; she maintains the foreign accent with aplomb. Gabrielle’s husband harbors a dark secret and his diabolical daughter, played by Jocelyn Kuritsky, is a very entertaining strain of crazy. Dee Nelson and Andy Phelan are a comatose mother and grieving son, respectively; Pancholy’s Nate, a Canadian immigrant and torture victim probably has the most compelling story, especially as it deals with the aftermath of his incarceration. The torture scenes are minimalistic but pretty difficult to watch and listen to at times.
In addition to the three main storylines, most of the actors play minor roles in the dream sequences; as there is no backstage area, there are always actors waiting on the sidelines for their next scene. There are hardly any props, but the constantly shifting focus and frequently shrill tone can definitely be overwhelming. Despite the politicized subject of torture, Urban does not treat the audience like idiots, offering little in the way of a clean resolution to any of the situations. Should you desire an unconventional and thought provoking evening in theatre, go see The Awake.
Photo by Kevin Thomas Garcia
Tickets are $18 general admission and $12.50 for members. Showtimes are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7:30, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 and Sundays at 3:30 through September 8th. To buy: call TicketCentral at 212-279-4200 or go to www.ticketcentral.com.
