Through October 26
THE BREAK SONG Compass Performing Arts Center/ART of Western New York
By Augustine Warner
Advice is a wonderful thing, common, free, ignorable and, often, very to the point and valuable.
Mark Humphrey’s “The Break Song” is about advice, from a man who has been there and paid the price, to another man who is in desperation so bad that he’s willing to commit a crime.
Junction (Vincenzo McNeil) is a working, professional musician who has done a short bit in prison for youthful stupidity.
He’s getting by, playing in a band for a guy he doesn’t like much, but there is a paycheck.
Joe (Robert Humphrey) knows the band leader is a pain, a pain so bad he took a swing at him.
That forced him out of the band and eventually left him playing on the curb, busking for coins into the hat next to him on the concrete that is his stage.
With winter looming, Joe has been pitched with an opportunity to make some cash by holding up a very successful night club.
The organizer says it’s an easy win and Junction says the guy can’t be trusted.
This Mark Humphrey show takes place in Junction’s small apartment, with Joe living in an even smaller place, just the other side of the living room wall.
Junction is frustrated because he knows Joe will ignore the advice because he wants a win and a few bucks to carry him for a while.
Junction proves right and Joe goes into hiding in the unnamed city where this all takes place.
There is blood and a hunt underway and more choices to consider.
Neither Joe nor Junction qualifies as a lowlife, although both are fringing on it, two people just trying to get by.
For them, these aren’t hard times, it’s just life.
For the local theater community, Mark Humphrey is a star, visible in his plays and his all-black suits he sports.
“The Break Song” is another example of why, a finely crafted work, getting a strong production from ART and director Monish Bhattacharayya,
The director has two strong performers, Humphrey (son of the playwright) and McNeil, both walking a fine line between stereotypes and facts.
It’s worth seeing.
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