Rope - Gremlin Theatre

Alyssa Kristine Photography

If you have followed me at all for any amount of time, you may have noticed that I am a fan of Alfred Hitchcock's work. So, when given a chance to see a play that one of his films was based on, I had to accept. The play Rope. written by Patrick Hamilton, just opened at the Gremlin Theatre. It is a tight two hour show that keeps you entertained and thrilled through out. Even though I knew the story, it was still an absolute thrill to watch. 

Rope is the story of two young (college age) men who decide to commit what they feel is the perfect murder. Brandon (Coleson Eldredge) leads Granillo (Jeremy Bode) into this thought of being able to kill someone with no regrets because they are smarter than everyone else. In fact, after doing so, they put the body into a chest and lock it, then decide to serve a light supper off of the chest. They have invited friends, and the father of the murdered man, over for a late supper. Sabot (Matthew Saxe) sets up the chest with a tablecloth, and dishes. Soon Kenneth Raglan (George Kleven), Leila Arden (Mira Davis) are both there getting drinks and beginning to flirt with each other. They are soon joined by the victims father and aunt -  Sir Johnstone Kentley (Craig Johnson) and Mrs. Debenham (Katherine Kupiecki). Finally joining them for this evening is Rupert Cadell (Jeffrey Nolan), a former professor of the Brandon and Granillo, though at times it read more like friends rather than professor/student relationship on stage. Regardless, the evening continues, they dine on sandwiches, dance to some music, go through books on the dining room table, making small talk about going to the theatre (where the victim was earlier that day), and enjoying the evening...all while the corpse is there in the chest that they are grabbing food off of. 

Alyssa Kristine Photography

There is humor to this show for sure, but as you can tell there is a feeling of tension and dread rumbling underneath the events as much as the thunder is rumbling through the sound system due to the rainstorm that takes place outside this single room. Sure you can hear music playing from the room the other room, the characters are relaxed but soon there is a phone call. The script is wordy in a 1929 way, but the language is easy to follow as is the story. The performers are spot-on in their characterizations, and the energy they bring to the stage. It is difficult to write too much more without giving away plot points but suffice it to say that it is a thrilling evening at the theatre.

The story is said to be based on the real crime by Leopold and Loeb and their killing of 14-yr old Bobby Franks. In this play, we, the audience, know from the top of the show that Brandon and Granillo did the crime. All we are waiting on is will they be found out. There is a lot of discussion about morality, and if there is a difference between murder and the killing that takes place during war (remembering that this is set after World War I). But even through the talk of morality, the tension remains, and the thrills continue. This production is the first production I have seen of this show and it is fantastic. The set works so well in the thrust stage at Gremlin Theatre. While it is simple, it is very effective with all the perfect opportunities for light and darkness being presented visually as well as verbally. The direction by Peter Christian Hansen allows for moments of stillness, which personally I love. Moments for characters like Cadell to sit and read, while we the audience have an idea of what might be going through his mind. I think it is a really great script, and a really fantastic production. Take a chance and go see this thriller while it plays till August 4th.