Theater Review - 'The Extremists' at TheatreWorks New Milford

NEW MILFORD - TheatreWorks New Milford is presenting a production of “The Extremists,” a 2009 one-act play written by CJ Hopkins. The two-person play was directed by Francis A. Daley and runs at the New Milford theater through April 2.

“If you see something, follow the science.” That sentence gives you an idea of how this satire about a television talk show unfolds.

This original political satire criticizes American views on extremism and foreign terrorism. It revolves around a television talk show host interviewing a counterterrorist expert who has written a book about terrorism, specifically, the imminent danger of the extremist threat.

The biting discussion is a convoluted game of both wordplay and mind games that twists and turns at breakneck speed. Is what the men are saying fact or a spin? Is the interview itself reality, a simulation, or theater? I often wasn’t sure and found it really difficult to keep up with the logic of the arguments.

The proceedings are meant to challenge audience members of any political affiliation and I guess it accomplishes that. So much of the lines are doublespeak that it was just so much noise. Noise with an interesting cadence, but not really saying anything. It becomes like a boxing or tennis match as the two talking heads discuss the issue of extremism, the definition of “normal,” and eventually deteriorates into complete satire.

Believe it or not, there are some chances to laugh, especially at the beginning when the stage manager prepares for the start of the episode of the television program. The rest of the interactions became mind-numbing at times and went on too long for me.

The two actors masterfully manage to keep up with the fast-paced dialogue, most of which borders on the absurd. Yet the two make it look almost easy to remember the crushing amount of lines.

Fred Rueck plays the author Norman Kreiger. The audience gets to watch this character spiral as he defends his ideas on the air, throwing down his suit jacket and loosening his tie as he goes.

Ridgefield resident Rueck is performing in his first full live theater production since late 2020 and is thrilled to work with his director of this very challenging piece. He has the lion’s share of the dialogue to retain and deliver at high speed.

Hugh Tucker portrays the talk show host Dick Hedgerow in his debut appearance at TheatreWorks New Milford. Tucker, who lives in Oxford, is a mathematics teacher at Shelton High School in real life.

Kudos to both gentlemen for taking on such a challenging piece of theater and for the production team for choosing to produce it.

Lighting design by Leif Smith, a designer, artisan and musician who lives in Redding, helps to set the scene of the television studio. The set consists of a large desk, two adjustable chairs and a screen in back with the show’s logo.

The play is presented in one act, without an intermission, and runs about 90 minutes. Tickets are $25 for reserved seating. Proof of vaccination and ID must be shown at the door and masks must be worn.

Will Jeffries will bring “Barrymore” by William Luce to New Milford as a fundraiser for TheatreWorks. It will run April 8 - 10. Tickets are $30.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. 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. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

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