Great Falls is Dark and Powerful, With Two Very Strong Performances at The Hive

Great Falls, by Minneapolis native Lee Blessing, is a heavy show about a road trip between a teenage girl and her stepfather. It opens in a way that immediately makes the audience uneasy, as it quickly becomes clear that the stepfather, whom she calls Monkey Man, is divorced from her mother. That, in itself, is fine; I firmly believe people divorce spouses, not children. But it’s also clear she does not want to be with him. We’re not entirely sure what’s happening at first, but it all feels very sketchy. The play tackles a number of difficult themes, including abuse and sexual assault.

Luckily, there are two very strong performances, by actors I don’t believe I’ve seen before, to guide us through the darkness. Andy Chambers plays Monkey Man, somehow making dialogue that could feel untethered from reality, particularly early on, seem plausible, if still a bit opaque. I think Blessing wants us to feel off-balance, unsure of what’s happening and why. Honestly, I’m not sure we ever fully understand that part. I mean, we do, but what is wrong with this man that he thinks this is an appropriate way to stay connected to Bitch (which is what she insists on being called)? He keeps insisting he’s not committing any crimes, but he absolutely, technically, is.

Reanna Madson plays Bitch, and as the stepfather of a girl who is shockingly similar (thankfully without the trauma), I can say her performance feels very genuine. Whether she’s being difficult and combative or delivering difficult information, she is never anything but truthful. The two play well off each other, with Chambers perfectly capturing the challenge of trying to start a real conversation, and Madson’s character stubbornly refusing to give him any foothold.

Directed by local actor, lighting designer, and jack-of-all-trades Ariel Pinkerton, the show benefits from her understanding of the material and its triggers. She handles the subject matter with care and clarity.

The set design by Keven Lock is both a strength and a weakness. The production gets a lot of mileage out of two platforms that cleverly transform into everything from the dashboard of a car to motel beds, a clinic, and several other locations. Clever projections by Alita Robertson, especially during the driving sequences, enhance the sense of distance and movement. The downside is a series of slightly overlong scene transitions, where we sit in darkness watching the performers reconfigure the set.

Great Falls runs through April 5th at The Hive Collaborative in St. Paul. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.thehivecollaborativemn.com/events/7b0cg7xhh7bw5zknaa144n9ti7kdkk

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