Billy Redden

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to see a staged reading of Billy Redden, an off-Broadway play currently in rehearsal.

The story is emotionally and technically complex; a thirteen year old is visited by several versions of himself at different ages, ie, in his twenties, forties, etc. These versions of Billy Redden have complicated relationships with each other, and while they are there to try to control the unfolding of life events, the drama seems to really center less on this plot line and more on the psychological prism of self; an entire life and all its nuances captured and refracting itself at one surreal moment.

There is a lot of pain and regret in Billy Redden's life, as well as pride and accomplishment; the bitter frustration was brilliantly portrayed by Dave Chontos, who plays "Will"-- Billy in his forties. Sad, angry, lonely, Chontos' Will seemed to capture and embody the central dramatic tension of the play.

It was wonderful reading and I look forward to the final production.

(My program got wrinkled in my bag, so this is a rather unfortunate image...)