The Apollinaire Theatre Company's production of "Is This a Room," a play that delivers the gripping true story of Reality Winner's FBI interrogation in verbatim fashion, has struck a chord with audiences seeking the visceral thrills associated with true-crime narratives. Running through January 8, the play was described by an ensemble member, Bradley Belanger, as "a psychological experiment is thrilling and terrifying" in an interview with the Boston Globe. Adapted from the actual transcript of Winner's interrogation, this tense production mirrors the chilling reality of how the former US Air Force translator was accused of leaking a classified document on Russian election interference.
Winner's portrayal by Parker Jennings adds a profound layer of tension to the theater experience, with Jennings admitting the script originally seemed lacking in "dramatic structure," only to later reveal a compelling narrative pull. "You feel this growing sense of dread," Jennings told the Boston Globe. Within the play, FBI agents, performed by Brooks Reeves and Cristhian Mancinas-Garcia, conduct themselves with rehearsed casualness that belies the high stakes of their investigation – a contrast that's deliberate and disconcerting.
Director Danielle Fauteux-Jacques has constructed an engagement that pulls viewers deep into the surreal juxtaposition of Winner's routine life and her ensnaring in a federal investigation. Fauteux-Jacques highlighted the mundane turned nightmarish, such as the moment Winner "loses everything" while simply putting away groceries. Scenic and sound design by Joseph Lark-Riley are intentionally minimal, allowing the script's verbatim dialogue – stutters, sighs, and all – and the brutal psychological manipulation of the interrogation to command attention. Lark-Riley's crafted soundscapes provide an orientation within the play's setting while also reinforcing the disoriented mood as redactions in the transcript begin to amass, literally silencing parts of Winner's story.
On a broader cultural canvas, the inclusion of this story on stage is underscored by Tina Satter's scenic work. Known for her award-winning writing and directing, Satter originally brought "Is This a Room" to life off-Broadway before it stepped up to the Broadway limelight. Satter's prominence was sealed when her debut feature film, "Reality," premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, with the playwright receiving a slew of accolades such as a Pew Fellowship and a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Award, as stated on the Apollinaire Theatre's website.
Accompanying the incisive political theater, Boston's holiday season is welcomed with a lighter fare at the Huntington Theatre's "Cosmopolitan Christmas," where Boston's own talents, Mary Callanan and Robert Saoud, perform with accompanist Brian Patton. A cabaret-style event, it promises a sophisticated twist on holiday classics while rewarding good boys and girls with a special treat - a free candy cane. The contrast between the intense real-world drama of Winner's story and the festive spirit of the cabaret encapsulates the wide array of performances available to audiences this winter season.
