Paranoia Proves Catching at Out Front on Main
To continue their stated mission of brining edgy, thought-provoking theatre to the Murfreesboro scene, Out Front staged the regional debut of Bug by Tracy Letts as their October offering. Helmed by George Manus, who undertook the daunting task of creating the show with two distinct casts, Bug invited the audience to join protagonists Agnes and Peter in their descent into madness and paranoia. It was an invitation that, given Manus’s on-point direction and the cast’s fearless performances, the audience simply couldn’t refuse.
Both casts of “Bug”
Leading lady Molly Breen was fascinating as Agnes, a young divorcée who has taken up residence in a rural motel room. The sometimes claustrophobic stage provided by Out Front was brilliantly utilized to heighten the imposing sense of Agnes’s space. Invited into Agnes’s world was Peter, a Army veteran whose experiences in the Middle East left scars that continue to haunt him, played by Andy Woloszyn. The chemistry between Breen and Woloszyn was perhaps a bit hesitant at times, but ultimately it was believable as Agnes accepted Peter’s conspiracy-laden view of reality.
As foils to the oddly poignant relationship between Agnes and Peter, Goss, Agnes’s ex-husband, and R.C., her protective friend, provide some context for the play’s growing paranoia. Buddy Jones was truly refreshing as Goss; this role was very much a departure from his normal fare, and I was quite impressed with his demonstrated versatility as an abusive and belligerent addict. Tara McBay also delivered a solid performance as R.C., whose protective tendencies regarding Agnes were touching. Rounding out the cast was Hudson Wilkins in the role of Dr. Sweet, the psychiatrist who had treated Peter during the period leading to the opening of the play. Wilkins’s performance was both disturbing and effective; it was not difficult to see the appeal of Peter’s delusions in the light of Sweet’s subtly manipulative machinations.
It is worth noting that Out Front on Main continues to push the boundaries of local theater by refusing to shy away from performance elements like nudity. This is not to say that nudity is being used for shock value, but rather that Manus should be applauded for presenting scripts in their intended form, one not expurgated to fit more easily the mores of local audiences.
The attention to detail – both of characters and of the environment in which they find themselves—in Bug was most evident. From the characters’ nuanced explorations of fear and loss to the articulate set dressing, Manus deftly crafted a production that was perfect for this haunting time of year.
Out Front on Main Presents . . . Comedy
8 p.m. Nov. 26–27
Out Front on Main
1511 E. Main St. (615) 713-1757
Shows all month, check
outfrontonmain.com for full lineups
Ashley Brooke Corby, Nov. 3–5
Bryce Damuth, Nov. 10–12
Battle of the Sexes,
Guys vs. Girls, Nov. 17–19
This information published in The Murfreesboro Pulse
