Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Chris Urch’s THE ROLLING STONE succinctly and articulately depicts an illicit gay love affair

• By drediman
• July 24, 2019
• No Comments

Latoya Edwards, Ato Blankson-Wood, and Myra Lucretia Taylor in Lincoln Center Theater’s production of “The Rolling Stone” by Chris Urch at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.

This past weekend, I caught Chris Urch’s The Rolling Stone at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, courtesy of Lincoln Center Theater. The play arrives stateside after having been previously seen across the pond in London to some acclaim. Set in modern-day Uganda, the piece tells the story of an illicit gay love affair between Dembe, a college-age student, and Sam, an older Irish-Ugandan doctor.

There’s much to like about Mr. Urch’s new play. It succinctly and articulately explores themes like the importance of family, the tough realities of having to lead double lives in an ignorant and hateful society, identity, and the nature of love. If anything, the play is perhaps too well-constructed and cleanly written; at times I would have welcomed a bit of untidiness (isn’t life inherently so?) here and there. Nevertheless, there’s a deliberateness and clarity to Mr. Urch’s writing that makes The Rolling Stone admirably accessible and often times touching.

Saheem Ali’s silky smooth direction is elegant and efficient, living up to the title of Mr. Urch’s play by moving it along with supple urgency. That The Rolling Stone builds to such an affecting and explosive climax is largely his doing. The cast of six is largely outstanding — giving performances that beautifully and persuasively highlight each character’s passion and complexity — as led by Ato Blankson-Wood, whose performance as the conflicted young Dembe is eloquent and moving.

RECOMMENDED

THE ROLLING STONE
Off-Broadway, Play
Mitzi E .Newhouse Theater / Lincoln Center Theater
1 hour, 50 minutes (with one intermission)
Through August 25