The allure of Vera Caspary and George Sklar’s Laura lies not just in its twist-filled mystery, but in its exploration of blind obsession. Classic film buffs are likely familiar with the 1944 film noir classic, but on stage, Laura is an intimate, character-driven experience mixed with enough thrilling plot twists to keep it balanced. Rover Dramawerks succeeded in capturing the essence of this shadowy, secretive mystery through a strong cast and director Carol Rice’s keen eye for details.
Midway into its run, last Friday’s show was a well-polished production. The ornate set with New York as the apartment’s backdrop was the room where it happened and kicked off with immediate drama. The premise of the play hinges on whether the titular character is alive or not as the show opens with the discovery of a dead woman in Laura’s apartment. The race is on to determine the culprit — and if that actually is Laura.
This show succeeded by leaning into the story’s claustrophobia. The singular setting of Laura’s apartment was like a pressure cooker as each character contributes – or distracts – from detective Mark McPherson’s investigation. That same tension was enhanced by Rachel Velasco’s gorgeous set. Filling the entire stage, the apartment was well thought out with design choices that felt lived-in but also a throwback style.
In the role of Mark, Troy Murray proved to be a strong leading man. He was properly stoic as the cop but when his defenses went down, Murray peeled back the character’s toughness with a crafty touch.
As the titular character, Andie Pace juggled the complexities of her character with guile. She could switch between the vampy noir female into a strong, but conflicted, independent woman.
With the flashiest role of all as Laura’s eccentric mentor Waldo Lydecker, Alex Eding was a force of nature. The character was always depicted as an effete personality but also seesaws if he is or isn’t…you know. Eding balanced this act so well. Of course, Lydecker is a queer character who loves his fashionable friend, but also has a distinct obsession with her that’s…love? Eding sashayed with wonderful flair but still kept an air of mystery to Lydecker that could keep some folks guessing.
While these three characters were the most central to the story, the cast as a whole had a strong chemistry. Dylan Hilbert gave us an eager but also thoughtful Danny, the teenage neighbor from upstairs. Vivian Reed served up delicious stern housewife vibes as Danny’s overbearing mother.
Punctuating the show was Savannah Valdez as the jumpy housekeeper/cook. What could have been a throwaway role, she brought an exuberance that fed into the noir vibes. As Laura’s fiance Shelby, Bradley Langan was a delightful surprise. Slight in stature, he was an able match against his looming castmates.
The script was dense with dialogue and each actor owned every word with a natural conviction. Rice’s direction allowed for the story’s slow burn without it ever dragging. Perhaps because of her direction, the play also gave Laura a more empowered aura rather than being a mere to the men surrounding her.
With a portrait of her on the wall that was the focal point of the entire show, the male gaze was on full display. But here, the men weren’t the strongest of this bunch. This Laura was more than a night of intrigue, but also a deep dive into the strength of a woman.
The show is playing at the Cox Playhouse in Plano and runs through June 20.
–Rich Lopez