Nothing exposes deep-seated relationship tensions like a zombie apocalypse. "The Revenants," a flawed gem from the horror-focused WildClaw Theatre, presents lovers besieged by memory, heartache and walking corpses. The show doesn't fully deliver on its promising premise, but does find new life in the b-movie tropes from which it draws inspiration.
Joe and Molly are undead and chained in a basement, tended to and occasionally abused by their respective partners, Karen and Gary. Judiciously used sound effects suggest rampant horror in the world beyond. The zombies' presence is continuous and gruesome, but never inappropriately pulls focus from the living characters. A well-designed set captures the claustrophobic dread exemplified by George Romero's "Night of the Living Dead." Chekhov's proverbial gun on the wall is, for this audience member, a spading fork over the workbench. (It stays there.) Though no farm implements are utilized in any act of mayhem, "The Revenants" doesn't disappoint those who enjoy splatter-spectacle in a relationship drama. Judging from the crowded house, this is a greater number of people than one might expect.
"The Revenants" ends strong after a shaky start. The bombast of electronic and incidental music undermines the intensity of some dramatic moments. From time to time, the actors' rhythm and delivery falter, perhaps a symptom of opening-night nerves. Despite these occasional missteps, the production has some truly resonant scenes. In the final third of the play, when the emotional entanglements of all four characters' shared pasts are laid bare, the horror-house shocks and interpersonal bickering become something far more emotionally arresting. "The Revenants" shows how love can last longer than life itself, and its effects can be both beautiful and terrifying.
Reviewed by Centerstage!
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