And the world goes boom

6. March 2011 by admin.

And the world goes boom

F. J. Hartland

When a young marine biologist is convinced the world is ending, he does what he has to do to save the human race.  He stockpiles supplies in a bomb shelter.  Now all he needs is a woman to help him re-populate the earth.

So he does what any modern man does who’s in need of companionship—he places an ad on craigslist.

This is the basis for boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, the currently production at Off The Wall Productions in Washington PA.The twist in boom is that unbeknownst to the young man and woman, they actions are being watched and controlled by Barbara, a kind of narrator. 

 It’s a wild and wacky script—full of laughs, but also leaves you thinking.

Off The Wall stays true to form by finding thought-provoking plays and giving them top-rate productions.

Rachel Downie gives one of her most memorable and perhaps best) performances as Barbara.  As a woman on the verge of a breakdown, Downie totally engages the audience on a roller coaster ride with her maniacal over-the-top portrayal…and she plays a mean timpani, too.

Matt Henderson, who has cornered the market on playing geeks, plays the penultimate science nerd Jules.  Having lost his own family in a variety of bizarre consequences, Jules is desperate to start his own family—despite the fact he’s gay.  Henderson is hysterically funny—especially when he imitates Jo

.As Jo, the woman who answers an ad for sex and ends up trapped in a bomb shelter, is the talented Lauren Michaels.  Michaels handles both the witty dialogue and the physical humor with finesse.  She and Henderson have excellent chemistry and play off each other very well.

Under the direction of Michael E. Moats, the production is fast-paced and packed with laughs.  He gets the most out of his highly talented trio of actors.

Paul A. Shaw has created a very realistic and gritty underground bomb shelter.  Boxes are piled floor to ceiling, the concrete walls are stained with water seepage and there’s a real fish tank (with real fish!).  Shaw always does an amazing job finding creative ways to transform the small Off The Wall stage into any location.Boom runs at less-than-ninety intermission-less minutes. 

And you’ll laugh for almost eighty of them!

The adult comedy runs through March 19.  Don’t miss it! 

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