New City Stage Company’s production of When You Comin Back, Red Ryder?, written by Mark Medoff and directed by Micahel Brophy, is a piece of theatre that’s trying to make a point but at the same time provides an intriguing piece of theatre.
It’s the late 1960’s – in Southern New Mexico – in a dingy little diner off the highway. Here, where the day starts out about as typical as it gets, everything goes wrong. The arrival of Teddy, a war vet, (Russ Widdall) and Cheryl, his quiet girlfriend, (Melissa Lynch) triggers a series of disagreements, fights and so much yelling. In the end, however, it’s all conveniently tied together and there is a happily ever after in sight.
This show begins slowly, with a long exposition of Red, or Steven (Robert DaPonte) that I’m still not sure advances the plot. However, from there, everything picks up with the arrival of Russ Widdall on stage. He’s easily the biggest highlight of this production – his character is dead on and leaves the audience feeling as though they’ve really experienced something.
The only really problem with this show may be in the script – it’s a little dated. You can feel when it was written and it’s obvious that this show, although it may have in the past, isn’t breaking any barriers today. The concept of showing the effects on war on the individual, however, is timeless and definitely applies on so many different levels today.
Overall, When You Comin Back, Red Ryder? reminds the audience of a different time – a place with a different mindset. The world of the play definitely isn’t something typical, but at the same time, it’s identifiable. People are able to find a piece of themselves within the situation – and the characters.
New City Stage presents When You Comin Back, Red Ryder? written by Mark Medoff and directed by Michael Brophy runs through January 10th, 2010 at The Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom Street. 215-563-7500, www.newcitystage.org.
