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Regional Reviews: Las Vegas Talk Show
It's striking that the older characters–an elderly grandfather and his two middle-aged sons–have all lost the women in their lives, leaving them with no source of empathy or encouragement; in that respect, they are worse off than the male Joads in "The Grapes of Wrath." Even for the bright 26-year-old grandson Sam, the prospects for an uplifting partnership are dim, given that he is jobless and apparently not job-seeking, and that he lives in his father's grungy basement, where he acts out a homemade version of "The Tonight Show" that he streams on the internet to a nightly audience of between two and eight viewers. McDowall's tightly written script offers compelling characters and realistic dialogue. And, despite the characters' depressing circumstances, McDowall understands the value of well-placed comic relief. A Public Fit Theatre Company's production is an absolute delight, with an experienced cast and flawless direction by Breon Jenay and Jake Staley. Wilam Tarris brings understated pathos to the role of Sam's father Bill, a stoic man who did everything expected of him but has nothing to show for it. As Jonah, Bill's tragically untethered brother, Ryan Ruckman's feral intensity and boundless stage presence are electrifying. Veteran actor Timothy Cummings gives a nuanced performance as grandfather Ron, who finds joy in small things and whose apparent simplicity masks the depth of his understanding. Austin Parrales is a great fit as the youthful Sam, whose belief in the future of his talk show, however unrealistic, at least provides a glimmer of optimism. Although the "guests" on Sam's show are decidedly uninteresting–a local fast food worker and a neighbor with a pet snake–both are brought vividly to life by Agustín Ballesteros. Despite its bleak outlook, Talk Show offers a compelling evening of theatre. Talk Show runs through November 16, 2026, at SST Studio Theater, 4340 S. Valley View Blvd., Suite 210, Las Vegas NV. Performances are (Friday, Saturday, and Monday at 7 pm; Sunday at 2 pm; no performance Oct. 31. Tickets $25-$45 general admission. For tickets and information, please visit apublicfit.org. Cast: Additional Creative: |
