THE HANGOVER REPORT – Open Clasp’s gritty KEY CHANGE unflinchingly sheds light on women behind bars

key changeLast night, I had an opportunity to catch a performance of Open Clasp Theatre Company’s brief but powerful Key Change at the 4th Street Theatre in the East Village. The piece, which tells the story of women in prison, is written by Catrina McHugh and devised with women in Her Majesty’s Prison. Open Clasp’s production garnered positive word of mouth at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it won the coveted Carol Tambor “Best of Edinburgh” Award. The great thing about Ms. McHugh’s script is that it neither patronizes nor victimizes these tough women. She has created painfully real portraits of women who may or may not be beyond hope of redemption or reparation, which is a heartbreaking reality. However, at less than an hour, the play feels a bit too slight; Ms. McHugh’s play could use a few more fully fleshed out characters and stories in order to create a fuller, more satisfying experience.

The piece is tightly directed by Laura Lindow in a no-nonsense yet theatrically eloquent manner. There’s a gritty physicality and simplicity to the piece that illuminates these women’s experiences just as profoundly as Ms. McHugh’s writing. And last but certainly not least is the six-member company – they’re simply smashing. Individually, each actress brings ferocity and affecting frankness to their role(s) that moved me. But together, they create undulating, forceful poetry that reeks of urgent authenticity. The production only runs through this weekend; don’t miss it.

RECOMMENDED

 

KEY CHANGE
Off-Broadway, Play
Open Clasp Theatre Company at 4th Street Theatre
1 hour (without an intermission)
Through January 31

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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