Review: 'White Guy on the Bus' at Square One Theatre

Pictured: Stratford actors Bruce Murray (left) and Erma Elliott

The Square One Theatre Company continues its 28th anniversary season with the Connecticut premiere of ‘White Guy on the Bus’ by Bruce Graham. The excellent production runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through March 18, 2018. Square One Theatre is partnering with Stratford CARE (Citizens Addressing Racial Equity) whose members will facilitate post-performance talkbacks with the actors and members of the audience following the 4pm twilight matinees on Saturday March 10 and March 17.

Square One performances are currently presented at Stratford Academy, where the stage has been re-configured by company into an intimate 64-seat black box-type theatre. Audience members are seated in new padded chairs on the stage along with the actors, which easily insures that all patrons have a good seat to hear and see. As promised, with this redesigned, modern venue no audience member is more than 15 feet from the stage and the beautiful lighting adds much to the look of the production. Of course, 64 seats sell out pretty quickly and it is open seating, so call early for tickets and arrive early if you can.

White Guy on the Bus (WGOTB) is social commentary play with a mystery aspect that fearlessly examines racism. It is fascinating to watch unfold, especially in the masterful strokes of the cast of five under the brilliant direction Artistic Director Tom Holehan of Stratford, a co-founder of the Connecticut Critics Circle. This is a new play by Bruce Graham; he is also the writer of ‘The Outgoing Tide,’ which Square One Theatre produced two seasons ago to critical acclaim. The company warns that this new piece “unravels a complex web of moral ambiguity, revenge, and racial bias taking the characters and the audience on an emotional roller coaster ride.” The story is intense and quite powerful in its message, with engrossing characters that struggle to make decisions and survive despite life’s challenges.

On a city bus in and around Philadelphia, Shatique, a struggling African-American single mom studying to be a nurse, meets Ray, a 50-something white man who makes a point of always sitting next to her and inquiring about her life. When she learns he owns a luxury car, she (and the audience) wonders what he is doing on this same bus so often. When the twists and turns of the seemingly disjointed scenes finally put the pieces of the puzzle together, the answer to this question leads to a dangerous and shocking proposal.

Be forewarned that there is more than a little strong language; I also noted references to Gauguin and Michael Douglas in the film ‘Wall Street.’ Because Ray’s wife Roz is an educator and another character a guidance counselor, some intense parts may be a little too close to home for some of us. However, I enjoyed following the quickly moving scenes that flowed into each other, sometimes even overlapping perfectly. The flashbacks eventually made everything clear in the expertly crafted two acts; at the end, it was amazing that so much had been revealed in the one hour and forty minute performance.

“ROZ. She's a guidance counselor.
RAY. So.
ROZ. That's for education majors who are afraid to actually teach.”

The talented cast did outstanding work with their complex characters. Erma Elliott of Stratford was up to the challenge of the role of Shatique in her Square One debut and gave a carefully measured performance. Bruce Murray (Square’ One’s ‘The Winslow Boy’) performed in his home town as the middle-aged “numbers man” Ray and he made us feel the emotion that fuels his character’s behavior.

Janet Rathert of New Canaan (‘Good People’ at Square One) was sublime in the role of Ray’s wife Roz, an experienced teacher in an inner-city school. The real-life husband and wife team of Emily and Ian Diedrich of Middlebury made their Square One debuts to play the young couple Molly and Christopher.; it was a treat for me to see the two perform together in a challenging straight play.

Scenery by Robert Mastroni was simple and set the mood well, and that lighting by Clifford Fava was perfection. Sarah Harrison was credited as the graffiti artist. Costume coordinators Caetana Grinder and Kerry Lambert made the characters look contemporary. Sound touches by Don Henault were just enough.

Up next in The Square One Theatre's 28th season will be James Lescene's ‘The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey,’ a fabulous work featuring Alexander Kulcsar which will run May 3 through May 20, 2018. I will be back to see this one. Squareonetheatre.com

White Guy on the Bus continues Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through March 18, 2018. Square One Theatre is in residence at the arts magnet school called Stratford Academy located at 719 Birdseye Street in Stratford, Connecticut. Those new to Square One Theatre should set the GPS for 719 Birdseye Street in Stratford, Connecticut, located off I-95 at either Exit 31 or 32 (northbound and southbound). There is ample and very easy FREE parking at the school.

Tickets are $20 for each adult single ticket, $19 for each senior citizen & student single ticket. Single tickets may be purchased by phone at 203.375.8778(24/7) or online at: squareonetheatre.com. The box office opens 60 minutes prior to each performance for in person sales. By mail, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope & check payable to Square One Theatre to Administrative Office; 656 Longbrook Avenue, Stratford, Ct 06614-5117. The Stratford Academy is wheelchair accessible. Please inform the box office of any special needs when reserving tickets.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues and she posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theater Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417