Playhouse East 4 – 29 March
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
3***
Journalists Iris and Dan Henniman (Annelise Bianchini and Aaron Vodovoz) have accepted a job interviewing serial killer Bill Reach (Joshua Collins). Lee Blessing’s smart play explores the dynamics of writer and subject, and the public’s morbid fascination with true crime.
The prison is miles from anywhere, and the couple set up base in a dreary motel on a soulless road. Iris has written true crime books about killers before, but Dan’s past work has been about non-violent crime, so she takes the lead at first – confident that she has a little understanding of how men like Reach think. The couple take turns to interview Reach, meaning that one of them is left in the motel room, recording ideas. Katren Wood’s effective set allows the action and audience focus to switch easily.
Collins is extraordinary as Reach, easily switching between menace and charm as he works each interviewer, dropping breadcrumbs to keep them coming back without really revealing anything new. Whenever questions about his childhood and motivation are asked, he uses his power plays of anger or mentioning the book’s publisher by name.
The content of the interviews becomes repetitive, but Reach has little to say – his actions being what make him interesting. What makes the interviews electric is the tension between the characters as Reach alters his demeanour depending on who he is talking to, and the couple’s changing attitude towards him. When we are watching Reach’s anger, calm or ready smile, we never know which, if any, is authentic. The unease and nervous giggles as Collins sits and smiles at women in the audience, then instantly glares at others as if he’s ready to kill them is testament to his great acting.
The couple’s fascination and disgust with Reach slowly begins to effect their relationship as Dan begins to sympathise with Reach’s descriptions of freedom and power, believing that he can make a breakthrough revealing further victims, while Iris begins to question their role in feeding people’s appetite for the gore and horror of true crime. Bianchini and Vodovoz portray their deterioration wonderfully.
Tracy Mathewson’s assured direction keeps the longer navel-gazing sections interesting, with Reach appearing in the motel room as his hold on the couple grows. There is much speculation about Reach’s motivation and psyche, but no answers, as the man himself appears not to care about that, instead thinking predominantly about his notoriety. As Iris grapples with guilt, Reach is crowing about a sequel.
Down the Road is thought provoking with an excellent cast creating some magic moments of high tension. Well worth a look.