Dana Maas and Ben Harris. Photo provided by Out-Side the Box Theatre.
A Family Reunion, presented by Out-Side the Box Theatre, is an ambitious play that packs quite a punch in the short time it has to deliver.
…an explosive, raw exploration…
Written and produced by Larry E. Blossom, the story revolves around a wealthy, bi-racial family reuniting at their Colorado vacation home. This is not just any reunion, however, but one in which two of the family members coming back to the nest were abducted and separated as children. One has been rescued; one seems to have found his way back at last.
While not always believable–an observation echoed by the parents themselves as they remark on the odds of having two abductions in one family–the story is an explosive, raw exploration of what happens when the lost and trafficked are found after years of trauma involving grief, indoctrination and reprogramming, and the full gamut of abuse on their part, and endless dreaming, lost hopes, and guilt on the family left behind.
All of the actors created memorable characters and worked well within the space and constraints of the festival, though my personal favorites include the characters of Guiselle Ramirez-Lema, Ben Harris, and Peter O’Shanick.
While at times it felt like the play tried to take on too much with its already loaded central story, the production is still more than worth experiencing and I hope to see another production of it beyond Fringe in the future.
Advisory: Recommended for adults only, contains nudity and adult language.
Running Time: Approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes. No intermission.
A Family Reunion runs through July 24, 2015 at Atlas Performing Arts Center. 1333 H St NE in Washington, DC. Tickets available here.
