"Indulgences" Makes the Sale

by Jana Pollack, New Rep Reviewer

In Chris Craddock's farcical comedy "Indulgences," the issue at hand is free will. In an unidentified kingdom, a salesman is at work, looking for people who have sinned. His job is to sell indulgences, essentially get-out-of-purgatory (but not for free) passes, and his employer is that ineffable higher power, God.

The characters he encounters are going through various ordeals. There are two men who have decided that their lives are so mundane and similar that no one will notice if they simply switch places - and so they give it a try. There is a pair of gay lovers, one of whom happens to be a prince, who are intent on killing the king and establishing a kingdom of acceptance. These two situations are intertwined, and the salesman is caught dead in the middle of both, finding himself desperate to use his God-given powers to control the situations and achieve the best possible outcome.

What he must learn is that free will is what is most important - that each person, bestowed with his own unique soul, must act according to his or her individual intentions, and that this is how things will work out for the best.

Kate Warner's production of this new comedy works hard to achieve a high level of intensity. In the very first piece of action, the salesman stands over a fountain and forcefully splashes water over his face while loud, pumping music plays. After a minute or two, he looks up at the audience, grins, and says, "Let's do this." It is quite an introduction. While the rest of the play is very entertaining, it doesn't quite live up to this beginning. The result of the attempted intensity is that the play's rhythm is jumpy, moving from vignette to vignette with the aid of many dramatic “lights down” moments. This technique is often a vehicle for laughter, but its repeated use makes it difficult to really settle into the story.

However, as usual at New Rep, "Indulgences" is very well-acted, and employs some very gifted comedians. A particular standout is Neil Casey in the role of Man #2; as in last season's "Picasso at Lapin Agile," his facial expressions are a constant source of hilarity. Ed Hoopman, too, in the role of Malcolm, consistently demonstrates perfect comic timing.

This production is not without its problems (mostly the aforementioned pace), and the script, while quite funny, does not offer a unique concept. It does offer laughter, though, and quite a lot of it, as well as the chance to see some talented actors at work. "Indulgences" is ideal for a mid-winter night at the theatre.