Culture Review: A Steady Rain

Well, to get it out of the way, this is a wonderful play. The actors portray a couple of Chicago cops literally telling the story of the last few weeks to the audience. The only props involved are two chairs and two overhead lights making the focus of the entire 90-minutes the two characters, Joey (Craig) and Denny (Jackman). This being the case, everyone can thank the Broadway gods for putting two of the best and most intense actors on the stage to portray these characters. Without them, this play would not be nearly as impressive. 

 

Despite the fact that there are only two guys talking during the play, it is still a coherent and engaging story that keeps the audience concentrated on the stage. Denny, a happy family man, sort of a loose cannon, and a brazen racist, often tries to assert his manliness and is the larger of the two on-stage personalities, chiming in with inappropriate comments and putting down people for fun. Joey, on the other hand, is a recovering drunk and tends to serve as Denny's conscience. 

 

While this is a darker play with a multitude of mature themes, the screen writer aptly infuses bits of humor that light up the somber tone. Denny's lack of political correctness often leads to Joey's truly humorous attempts to explain why he shouldn't say certain things. 

 

Though the actors are what make this play, the director (Ken Russ Schmoll) also deserves credit for the overall ambiance of music and projected scenery. During a particularly harrowing sequence, the subtle use of a violin and the dark image of a city alley projected on the back screen ratchets up the intensity considerably. 

 

There are few drawbacks to the production (however minor) that should be mentioned. First off, despite the good actors and an intriguing story, the play can get to be monotonous in the beginning as it sets up the pieces for the commanding ending. While both actors fall seamlessly into the roles of the hard-boiled, Chicago cops (with Craig being British and Jackman being Australian) the accents that they use occasionally slip quite noticeably. Nonetheless, these are small gripes about such a terrific overall production. 

 

A Steady Rain is a dark, gripping play brought to life by two of the best actors in the business. Need a healthy dose of bigger than life personalities, dark humor, and riveting storytelling? If so, A Steady Rain is perfect for you.