History buffs will thrill at the well-researched geographic and socioeconomic name-droppings which litter the dialogue – as crates and satchels litter the barren stage. From the set it is not difficult to discern that we are in a storehouse, and from the script artfully written by director Michael Silver, it is not difficult to discern that The Storehouse, encloses a story of uneasiness between Russian occupiers and natives in 1866 Poland – as well as agitation within the ranks of the soldiers themselves.
The soldiers each add to the survey of what loyalty means. Loyalty for Anton Garinka (a roguish portrayal by David Byrd) is adherence to one’s convictions which conflicts with that definition of Lieutenant Ipanov (a brilliant characterization by Evan Crump that begs for mockery by Ipanov’s subordinates), unadulterated love for one’s country above all else. Fresh-faced Sergei Ruglev and townswoman Anna fall somewhere in between the extremes laid out by Garinka and Ipanov.
The Storehouse builds in suspense such that even when the final line is spoken the audience seemed to shift in its seats expecting a different ending. Go see what The Storehouse does in fact hold!
Running time: 70 minutes.
The Storehouse information and tickets.
