Building The Wall

Off-Broadway at New World Stages


​I think much of America is having nightmares about what is to become of us under the (and I use the term loosely) leadership of this loose cannon we call  a President.   The situation is getting worse by the day, and we can only hope it doesn’t get as bad as it does in this futuristic play written by Robert Schenkkan which likens this Country in 2019 to 1940’s Nazi Germany.


Gloria (Tamara Tunie), a Professor/Writer and Rick (James Badge Dale), a Prisoner/former Law Enforcement Officer  take the stage in this chilling story of terror at the hands of an unhinged Government.  Rick has sought out the Professor to tell his story in hopes of redeeming his tortured self.  Rick is on death row and slowly and painfully what brought him there is revealed.


We learn of a terrorist attack on Times Square that eradicates 2 full blocks.  There is some speculation that the attack was a plot by the government to prove that terrorism exists and to give justification for the President to declare Martial Law, which he does.  All immigrants are rounded up and sent to a “processing center” which is how we get to the story of Rick.  Rick is running the processing center.   At first things are orderly, until the intake starts to far exceed the outake.  Rick is forced to make life and death decisions to deal with the overcrowding, disease, and crime that starts to take over.   When the barbaric conditions at the center get leaked to the outside, the goons (Government Ordered Operatives of Satan...yes I made that up, but close) are sent in to make the problem go away, and the directives will make your hair stand up on end.  While it was not fully developed, there was an underlying message that if you were against the administration you might as well be a traitor to the government and you were treated accordingly, but there is a silver lining in this dark cloud.  We find out that Trump has been impeached.  We don’t know why, but really?  I don’t think we need an answer to that question.


Tunie and Dale do not falter and are exquisite in their respective roles.   The gray set (Ante Ellermann)  is a simple interrogation room and a clean backdrop to the revolting details of this story.   The sound by Bart Fasbender is befitting a Law and Order SVU episode.


The “Wall” that was the center of Trump's campaign is redefined in this production and it will bring your fears into the light.   I wonder if Trump will come to see  it?  Get your tickets at https://www.telecharge.com before it closes on July 9th and check for available discounts at my website here.


–ThisbroadSway 5/21/2017