Review for THE DIMENSION OF DEATH!, Pegasus Theatre

 The Dimension of Death!

Written by Kurt Kleinmann

Directed by Michael Serrecchia

Produced by Pegasus Theatre

Reviewed by: Natalie Shaw

If you could go back in time, what would you change? For me, there's not a lot that I would change, if it were even possible. Perhaps, I would've tried to take life less seriously and had a little more fun during my college years. I might've looked for ways to donate my time and energy to those in need a little more often. I might've even worried less about what people thought of me and made the effort to be more of my authentic self. But, all of this depends on whether or not I'd have the same life experiences that I have in my possession right now. So, maybe "back in time," is not quite as a alluring as it sounds. But,
what about finding myself (or the equivalent of myself) in another dimension, a parallel universe, if you will. If you're familiar with the Multi-verse, as displayed in the more recent Marvel productions, you'll know what I mean. It's the idea that we exist within other parallel universes, so we could, in theory, find ourselves (or our loved ones) within these realms of reality. It sounds bogus, but it's also fun to ponder!

In The Dimension of Death, Government officials Col. Jean Hudson (played by Alex Moore) and Capt. Ruth Nelson (played by Rowan Gilvie) are on a mission to unlock inter-dimensional travel, along with their contracted colleague Dr. Leopold Teitlebaum (played by Brandon Whitlock.) After years of research, study, trial and error, they have found a way to access other dimensions and travel to and from them. But, just when they're finally met with success, a dead man from another dimension is hurled into their laboratory.  Now what? Three trusty detectives are sent out to discover the killer: Harry Hunsacke (played by Scott Nixon,) Captain Foster (played by Chad Cline) and Nigel Grouse (played by Ben Bryan are sent on the Top Secret Mission. It doesn't take long before more bodies start to fall, so the team needs to hurry--fast. 

I recognize a few faces from their previous productions and knew I could expect some incredible performances from these exceptional actors. Last season, I had the privilege of watching Rowan Gilvie as Rita in Educating Rita at OnStage in Bedford. Gilvie is an exceptional actress whose portrayal of the clever Capt. Ruth Nelson was as captivating as her representation of the strong-willed Rita. In addition to Gilvie, I observed David Helms and Sheila D. Rose in Enchanted April at MainStage Irving-Las Colinas. Helms portrays Johnson in The Dimension of Death as a studious assistant with personality quirks delightfully designed by the actor. On the opposite spectrum, Helms depicts Antony Wilding in Enchanted April, achieving beautiful authenticity and grace. Both performances leave the audience desiring an encore! As for Sheila D. Rose, you will not want to miss her comedic antics! Rose portrays a spritely version of Constanza in the above-mentioned Enchanted April with a playful vitality, while her representation of the pirate character Selma in The Dimension of Death is hearty and hilarious! Director Michael Serrecchia has brought together a cast that is overflowing with talent and skill, one that is both impressive and exciting to watch!

The Dimension of Death is a comedy murder-mystery that is part of an on-going series of "living black and white" plays put on by Pegasus Theatre that gives a nostalgic feeling of the 1950s. This fun-loving production encourages some audience participation in the discovery of the murderer within the story. It is currently running at The Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts until January 22. Ticket information can be found at pegasustheatre.org

Audience Rating: PG-13 for mature content

Accessible Seating: Available

Hearing Devices: Not Available

Sensory-Friendly Showing: Not available

Production Sound Level: Comfortable

Noises and Visuals to Know About: Gunshots

Y'all Enjoy!

Natalie Shaw