OnStage Playhouse’s recent production of “Coyote on a Fence” was not a comfortable show to watch. As soon as the audience member entered the theater, he or she was confronted with the barbed wire fence of a prison and a towering female guard (Nicole White), who glared at the audience in silence.
But, as one patron said, the play was “powerful.” Another called the show “a must-see.” During the performance, the audience faced questions on the nature of evil and innocence.
There were definitely two sides of a story — at least two.
Based on true events, “Coyote on a Fence” is about two men on death row: illiterate but mentally-challenged Bobby Reyburn, a racist predator convicted of a horrific crime, and educated and arrogant John Brennan, a serious writer who may only be guilty of doing society a favor.
As each awaits his fate, one evokes sympathy and the other derision, while the audience is challenged to consider whether one can be innocent though proven guilty.
The playwright Bruce Graham has created complex characters that are an actor’s dream, and the actors boldly rose to the challenge.
Larry E. Fox, who played the commanding figure of educated John Brennan, was rational and irrational as the play demands Shane Ruddick Allen created the ignorant racist who had committed an inconceivable crime, showing him as unhinged, enthusiastic, and at times likable.
At the end of the show, Allen mentioned that he was exhausted after a performance. As witness to the prisoners’ true selves, the guard played by Holly Stephenson gave clear voice to the strain of guarding men who are on death row. Actor Salomon May played a New York Times reporter with his own agenda.
As mentioned, the realistic setting, created by Chad Oakley, was a huge part of the believability of the piece. James P. Darvas, as director, created a compelling world that focuses on the characters’ lives and not solely their crimes.
On social media, actor/director Susan Stratton wrote, “Wow! Kudos to director James P. Darvas, producer Jennifer McKenna, and artistic director Teri Brown for giving our community a gutsy, thought provoking piece of theatre that is a must-see.”
The OnStage production ran Jan. 15 through Feb. 6.
