Fatherland
By R.J. Hanson
Directed by Andrew Worley
Audience Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour 45 minutes, no intermission
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available
ASL Showing: Not Available
Sound Level: Comfortable Volume, quiet at times
Noises and Visuals to Prepare For: Stage blood used, stage handguns are drawn, gunshots, depictions of dead bodies (including children,)
Reviewed by Natalie Shaw
Fatherland is set on the Richter cattleman farm in 1960 Texas. An intimate theater space at the Addison Performance Arts Centre Studio hosts a small, rustic cabin facade and front porch of Buck Richter (Joshua Rentschler,) a straight-shooting Texas Ranger with a military background. Rentschler's Buck is collectively focused on solving the murder of Silas' wealthy parents, Klaus and Helena. Silas (Alex Hanson) enters the scene covered in blood, but simply states that he "must've stepped in the blood" when he discovered the bodies. Hanson's Silas is calculated and suspicious from the word go, but lacks motivation for the killing, or does he?
Trevor Huckabee narrates the opening, and systematically reappears for further insights about our storyline. Huckabee is naturally personable and easy to follow as a narrator, giving us emphasis and vocal inflection in areas where it might matter most of all, as well as timely in how he drives the pace of his speeches-- we are truly captivated and want to listen! In addition to narrating, Huckabee plays a few roles of his own within the story, mainly the Deputy and Nazi Zots, with distinct differentiation, shaping each character thoughtfully and sincerely.
Fatherland is a little heavier on the exposition than some of us may be used to, with a fair number of names mentioned that we need to keep up with, but appropriate elements of the mystery are present, with an ending that is exciting and full of curiosity. Overall, RJ Hanson's Fatherland is a influential tale with thrilling dramatic elements that utilize Greek-tragedy aspects and is worth experiencing! Tickets are available at alexhansonactor.com/current-projects/p/fatherland
Enjoy the Show!
Natalie Shaw
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