Reviews

RICHARDSON – A road paved with good intentions still ends up at the same place, even if it runs through a church.

The Labyrinth Theatre creditably tackles social and spiritual issues in most of its shows, especially the original ones it produces every season. It's housed in a Methodist church, after all, though it's an independent organization using its share of Equity actors.

Labyrinth is presenting the world premiere of Perimeters, written by artistic director Kevin L. Ash and Susan Cummins and directed by Mr. Ash. The production will move to New York in June. A program note says that Mr. Ash planned a heavy drama about a pair of brothers years ago, but it eventually evolved into the riddling comedy now on the boards.

David (Shane Beeson) tells his girlfriend Julia (Deanna Sarkar) that an old friend he hasn't seen in years, Dan (Joshua Scott), and a woman from work (Lindsey Holloway) are going to join the birthday tête­à­tête she has arranged for him. A nosy neighbor (Lisa Anne Haram) keeps bursting onto the scene, and Dan arrives with a pushy stranger, Arty (Joseph Corri).

Unfortunately, not a moment of the script rings true. The contrived plot doesn't make sense on its own terms. If the David and the old college roommate haven't communicated in eight years, how does Dan know where to show up? Arty's identity is a tangle of improbabilities.

Sudden changes of tone destroy any momentum that accumulates. Most bothersome, the light comedy jars with the heavy religious symbolism. Dan's history gives him Christ-like qualities, but the final revelations about him don't have the impact they should. At the end of the play, the selfish character the audience expects to see transformed remains offstage. It's as if A Christmas Carol ended with the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

The production, reviewed Friday, is all over the place – I counted at least five styles of acting. Mr. Beeson, Ms. Sarkar and Ms. Holloway do what they can with the material. Ms. Haram seems to go way over the top, but she has her reasons. Mr. Corri really does go over the top, and Mr. Scott simply looks lost. The two actors playing comic cops at least have the writing as an excuse for their silliness.

Perimeters doesn't know its own limits.

PLAN YOUR LIFE Through May 17 at the Labyrinth Theatre. Runs 105 mins. $10 to $25. 972-231-1012, www.thelabyrinththeatre.org.

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