Paternus

Reviewed by Terry Morgan
Rogue Machine
Through August 9

In addition to the two-show schedule Rogue Machine generally runs, the company also does things such as their late-night “Off The Clock” productions. Daphne Malfitano’s Paternus is the latest entry in this series, and while it’s enjoyable for its strong acting and some good writing, its structure is flawed and it’s too short to achieve the catharsis it’s looking for.

Steve (Darrell Larson) and his teenage son Stephen (Timothy Walker) are driving to a family outing when their RV gets stuck on an isolated mountain road during a snowstorm. The two haven’t gotten along well for years, with Steve in particular being a bully. As the snow continues to fall and they realize help isn’t coming anytime soon, father and son have to prepare for the worst.

Larson brings an intensity of emotion to his performance, from the harsh cruelty of Steve’s bullying to his more forgiving love as Steve realizes they may not survive. He’s so good and committed in the role that the show is worth seeing for his acting alone. Walker is fine as the cowed and resentful Stephen, but the play spotlights the father’s character more than the son’s, and so Walker gets less to do.

Director Mark St. Amant inspires great work from his cast, and he stages the piece with graceful simplicity. (The final scene is an unexpected moment of visual beauty.)

Malfitano’s play features an intriguing situation and a familial relationship that makes the work more compelling still. Her decision, however, to unfold the action in reverse, concluding with the beginning of the story, robs us of what should be a supremely dramatic moment.

The play’s brief length (45 minutes) curtails the benefits of expansion, and perhaps of adding characters that we now only hear about secondhand.

Rogue Machine, 5041 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Fri.-Sat. 10:30 p.m. through August 9. roguemachinetheatre.com