Kentucky Cantata: Theater review by Jenna Scherer
Paul David Young's Kentucky Cantata is a hard-to-stomach mess of a play, ponderous and in love with the sound of its own voice. We begin with a loaded premise: Innocent white girl comes to New York City to follow her acting dreams, only to be raped and beaten by her nonwhite cab driver on the way into town from JFK. The piece is mostly dull and pretentious, offering obvious revelations about character backstories paired with didactic mouthfuls like: "His rape spoke of the hatred of the classes and the colonists that held him down."
Young acts like he's the first guy ever to break the fourth wall by having his performers continuously turn to the audience to explain that we have assumptions and that they are going to challenge them! And when it comes to Kentucky's handling of the potential rapist character, Young's hamfisted writing often curdles into offensive stereotype. Kathy Gail MacGowan's production includes a trio of musicians who follow the actors around, weaving a mood; it's a neat effect but one that would work better in a play that's actually worth seeing.—Jenna Scherer
HERE (see Off-Off Broadway). By Paul David Young. Directed by Kathy Gail MacGowan. With ensemble cast. Running time: 1hr 20mins. No intermission.