B Street Theatre producing artistic director Buck Busfield writes an original play every year for his company.
Always in November, B Street used to announce it as the holiday play even though the connection might be as tenuous as a character wearing a green-and-red snowflake-patterned sweater in one scene.
Now it is simply the Main Stage winter play, but still a world premiere work produced and seen for the first time. "Watching Wynter," Busfield's moody and surprising new comedy, opened Saturday.
Like most writers, Busfield is intrigued by certain themes. Families addressing broken bonds, as happens here, recurs as a central idea in several of his plays. Busfield also favors subtle poetic nuances of character even though the comedy form he relies on doesn't always suit the more thoughtful material.
"Watching Wynter" effectively echoes one of those Busfield themes, specifically one about parents exerting undue or damaging influence on their children. It's also about people retreating from an outside world they see as threatening or difficult.
David Pierini's depressed, monosyllabic Lonny sits in an easy chair, glued to his video game monitor. His oppressively optimistic mother, B Street newcomer Jayne Taini, vainly tries to motivate him. Though the first scene between Lonny and Mom makes the point, several more exchanges follow before Lonny reluctantly takes a job as a security guard.
The Busfield themes are combined well here, and Steven Schmidt's imaginative set design has a poignant beauty that allows us to see the outside world engaging with a quietly observant Lonny.
Busfield also directs with characteristic lightness and clearly has written with his seasoned acting ensemble in mind. Pierini's somber Lonny and Dana Brooke's severe and endearingly oddball Wynter form a sweetly incongruous pair.
Taini's spirited Mom gives the play its energetic drive, while Jamie Jones and Kurt Johnson are more than able in comic support.
Watching Wynter
three stars
What: B Street Theatre presents a world premiere play written and directed by Buck Busfield. A socially inept, video game- obsessed adult gets pushed out into the world by his overbearing mother. With David Pierini, Jayne Taini, Dana Brooke, Jamie Jones and Kurt Johnson.
When: Continues at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 2 and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 5 and 9 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 31
Where: B Street Theatre Mainstage, 2711 B St., Sacramento
Tickets: $18-$30, $5 student rush
Time: 1 hour and 50 minutes, including one intermission
Information: (916) 443-5300, www.bstreettheatre.org
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