STAGE REVIEW 'Brilliant Traces' offers brilliant performances

The actors were perfectly suited to their roles.
By GARRY L. CLARK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CHAMPION -- Human contact, or rather the lack of it, lies at the heart of "Brilliant Traces," a riveting production that opened Friday evening at Kent State University Trumbull Campus. This tragicomedy leaves one breathless as it explores mankind's struggle to understand his world, his place in it, and ultimately himself.
The two characters in this play, Rosannah and Harry, find themselves suddenly thrown together through the oddest of circumstances in a remote part of Alaska during a blizzard. Each has a deep secret that has imprisoned them. And it is here that they slowly begin to peel back the layers of the other's psyche, each serving as the other's catalyst to begin to find the answers that they are reluctant to seek out, but must in order to find peace.
Rosannah has run out on her wedding for reasons that even she cannot fathom. She arrives at Harry's home in the middle of nowhere, confused, exhausted and nearly frozen. For his part, Harry has run from tragedy that he cannot bear to face and yet he cannot bear not to face it. Each brings out the worst in the other, which culminates in a deeper self-awareness for them.
Cast
Emily Mitchell Straight gave an impeccable performance as Rosannah, peppering the character with the perfect amount of nuances to engage the audience in a wistful yearning to understand, and even reach out to help, her in her struggle.
For his part, Shannon Smith gave an incredibly adept interpretation of Harry. The naturalness of his demeanor and mannerisms was spellbinding as he agonized through his character's ultimate catharsis.
Daniel Raymond Nadon serves as director of this production, and speaks in the programs notes about this being "a play with chops." He also noted that this "is an actor's play. The parts are huge," as indeed they are. And Nadon has found in his two actors the perfect people to play them.
While this is not a feel-good drama, neither does it leave one feeling hopeless. It does serve to give one cause for introspection and asks for a deeper level of compassion toward others.
clark@vindy.com