Small-house theater has returned, too. Joe Hanrahan’s The Midnight Company (which even did a show in November) is working at the Kranzberg Black Box, with Here Lies Henry.
As usual with The Midnight Company, and Hanrahan in particular, it’s a quirky work. It’s a solo piece, sometimes referred to as a one-hander from playwright Daniel MacIvor. Hanrahan is Henry, a guy who tells his own story. Or does he? Even early on, there are discrepancies. Things bounce around, Henry is uneasy, explaining it away by saying he’s going cold turkey from cigarettes, but there’s clearly more than that. For people unused to this kind of story, it’s disconcerting, but bear with things and watch Hanrahan work. It’s the hands, the pacing around, the pauses as Henry – and it’s the character, not the actor – reaches for phrases. Irresistibly, we’re drawn into figuring out just what’s going on. Joe Hanrahan is a dab hand at this sort of thing, so sit back and let it happen.
There really is almost no set to speak of, but there’s some fine lighting work from Tony Anselmo. Production design is from Kevin Bowman Ellie Schwettye, who worked with Midnight for A Model for Matisse, among other shows, directs.
About 65 minutes, no intermission and theater, of course, with very limited capacity. It’s a fine way to get your feet wet, so to speak, with small indoor theater.
Here Lies Henry
through June 27
The Midnight Company
Kranzberg Arts center
501 N. Grand