Apollinaire Theatre Company Opens 2017 Strong With "Brilliant Adventures" by Alistair McDowall - In Search of Lost Time

Do not lose any time in getting to the Apollinaire Theatre Company in Chelsea before January 21st to check out the scintillating play by British playwright Alistair McDowall. "Brilliant Adventures" is totally intriguing from beginning to end, with outstanding writing by Mr. McDowall, visionary directing by Danielle Fauteux Jacques, and flawless acting by a top notch cast of six actors.

The themes of the play all revolve around time. Brilliant young Luke (Sam Terry) has tinkered together a time machine from the parts of vintage computers and other electronic devices. He is reluctant to use it for fear of impacting the past, present and future. His big brother Rob (Michael Underhill) is a low level drug dealer in their rundown section of a town in northern Yorkshire, England. Rob is alternately bullying and protective of Luke, who has a speech impediment that makes him reluctant to communicate. Rob is working for a drug lord, Ben (Brooks Reeves), who is intent on setting up shop in Luke's humble council flat. He also tries to coerce Luke into selling him the time machine, making increasingly lucrative and then darkly threatening overtures that lead to a crisis for all concerned. Rounding out the dramatis personae are Greg (Geoff Van Wyck), a hapless friend of Rob and Luke who is desperate to be seen as a person of worth. The Man (Dev Luthra) is revealed to be the enigmatic father of Rob and Luke, to whom something catastrophic has occurred. And finally a second Luke (Eric McGowan).

Each of these characters has been perfectly cast, causing us to sympathize with them, despise them or wonder at them. Sam Terry is believably fragile as Sam, yet able to show remarkable strength of character when pushed to the limit by Ben. Michael Underhill walks a fine line as Rob between coopting Luke and his scientific cleverness for his own gain on the one hand, and looking for ways to protect his little brother on the other extreme. Brooks Reeves is simply frightening as Ben, pure sociopathic evil intent on getting his own way at all costs. Mr. Reeves appeared as Hamlet this past summer in the Apollinaire production; in this role he is pure pernicious prince of darkness. Geoff Van Wyk is appropriately pitiable as Greg, peering at a world through dark framed glasses that make his act and appear as an outsider looking to find a way into the world that others inhabit. Dev Luthra plays two very different roles. In the first act he is led around in an almost catatonic state by Rob. He opens the second act in a flashback (the playwright again using time as a theme), directly addressing the audience as a younger man fully in control of his faculties, and filling in an important backstory about an incident involving a fishbowl that happened when his boys were young.  That same fishbowl sits prominently in Luke's flat. Finally, in a bit of perfect casting that allows the audience to suspend disbelief, Eric McGowan is a second Luke. I will allow you to figure out that plot device on your own when you come to see the play.

Dev Luthra as The Man
Brooks Reeves as Ben
Sam Terry as Luke
"Brilliant Adventures"
by Alistair McDowall
Apollinaire Theatre Company
Through January 21st

Not only is the time machine an object of conflict and drama within the piece, but it is clear that each character, in his own way, is wasting time - time that cannot ever be recaptured. Or can it?

Kudos to Dialect Coach Christopher Sherwood Davis for helping these fine actors present themselves credibly as men of Yorkshire. The Set Design by Nathan Lee perfectly depicts the down at the heels nature of Luke's existence. Costume Design by Kate Devorak helps to define each character, and Sound Design by David Reiffel enhances the feel of the place.

Playwright, Director and Actors have conspired together to offer a subtle literary clue as to the nature of the play's themes. I will not spoil it for you, but I will offer a few clues. Take note of the name of the fish, and see if you can catch the title of a book that Luke reads when he is alone. Have fun playing literary Sherlock Holmes!

Dev Luthra as The Man

Michael Underhill as Rob

"Brilliant Adventures"

by Alistair McDowall

Apollinaire Theatre Company

Through January 21st

Unlike the characters in this play, you will not be wasting your time if you make your way to Chelsea to check out "Brilliant Adventures." Now through January 21st.

Apollinaire Theatre Website

Enjoy!


Al