AMERICAN SON

CURIOUS THEATRE:NOV 6 – DEC 11

       L-R: Sean Scrutchins and Jada Suzanne Dixon

Couched in an interracial couple’s struggle to determine the location of their missing son, playwright Christopher Demos-Brown shines a light on the insidious nature of racial bigotry in our country.

     Jada Suzanne Dixon , who also directs the piece, gives a passionate, nuanced portrayal of Kendra Ellis-Connor, the distraught mother.

     Josh Robinson turns in yet another brilliant performance as Kendra’s estranged husband, Scott. Mr. Robinson has done exceptional work onstage for several seasons, including his most recent work portraying two of the characters in Arvada Center’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” which was shuttered due to the onset of the pandemic.

     Sean Scrutchins’ character, Officer Paul Larkin, is the voice of white apathy. At one point he declares, “She went from zero to ghetto in ten seconds flat!” Later, Kendra describes him as having given the frantic mother “a tour of the Jim Crow police department,” complete with “side by side water fountains.”

      Mr. Scrutchins is one of Denver’s finest actors. His outstanding performance in “The Whipping Man” several seasons ago still resonates in memory. 

     It is perhaps unheard of to speak of a supporting actor as having given a tour-de-force. 

     Nevertheless…Abner Genece’s performance in the role of Lieutenant John Stokes is an example crying out for it.

     Genece, who co-wrote the scalding social commentary, “Elephant,” for Benchmark Theatre, rivets with his powerful, visceral performance.

     American Son is an important play regarding real issues that need addressing now! It’s heartening to see such a play produced by Curious Theatre with such responsibility and guts!!!

     Emotionally moving, and truly cathartic, this play is a multi-faceted gem. Go and support this very fine theatre company. 

 

For tickets go online at curioustheatre.org or call 303-623-0524.