Who will YOU believe?

There’s no way Adriane Galea could have known 17 months ago that the script she chose to open Outvisible Theatre Company’s 2018-19 season would be so timely that one could understandably suspect it was sneaked into the schedule to take advantage of the heat generated by the latest news cycle. But the universe works in strange and occasionally miraculous ways, and so the producing artistic director’s decision all those months ago to present the world premiere of Jeff Stolzer’s “Unsportsmanlike Conduct” while Americans are choosing sides in our latest political quagmire can be chalked up to a fortuitous act of serendipity that stamps the production with a “must-see” label as it grapples with a subject that threatens to tear apart an already fractious country.

Written about six years ago after a series of high-profile sexual assault cases caught his attention, Stolzer’s story opens as a young woman wakes up in the bed of a high-profile football star who brought her back to his hotel room after she approached him in a bar following his appearance at a fundraiser the night before. From there, the playwright – in a manner you’d expect of a trial lawyer – begins unfolding the aftermath of that fateful night. And he does so in a way that “we the audience” become “we the jury” – with the first half of the play detailing the morning after and what leads to a charge of rape, and concluding with the court testimonies of Kaylie and Noah.

Jeremy Kucharek and Danielle Wright

Who’s guilty and who’s not is never revealed –and that’s the genius of Stolzer’s concept. Instead, he first gives us insight into his characters’ characters as they go about their one-and-only morning together. Then, in what could be described as the play’s third act (the show runs 70 minutes without intermission), we observe for the first time through their individual testimonies what happened on the infamous night in question.

But is that what we’re truly seeing?

As in most – if not all – cases in which there are no witnesses and little proof-positive corroborating evidence, “we the jury” must make our decisions based on the details we are provided. But as their “he said/she said” testimonies unfold, two things become evidently clear: Each is trying to shape their story in the most positive light; and both aren’t totally truthful.

So who’s right and who’s wrong? What’s true and what’s not? What’s a jurist to do?

Talk. Think. And vigorously debate – which is what we Americans should be doing as the Kavanagh-Supreme Court fiasco plays out. And while there was no talk-back following the opening night performance, I did overhear theatergoers reacting to what they had seen – some whispered in hushed tones – and that led me to believe Stolzer’s evil plan to stimulate a much-needed discussion one performance at a time is succeeding.

And that’s a good thing.

About the production

Danielle Wright and Jeremy Kucharek

Although the above paragraphs provide a very high-level analysis of Stolzer’s script, I focus mostly on its overall theme and the concept he used to tell his story. What I did not do is dig into the nitty gritty of the script; that is, I did not provide any in-depth analysis of it, such as whether or not his dialogue rings true, or how successful he is at creating realistic and believable characters.

I also didn’t discuss the production itself.

There’s a reason for all of that.

It’s called “conflict of interest” – and that’s what prevents me from actually talking in detail about “Unsportsmanlike Conduct.”

How? Why? Because I was part of the process that helped Galea decide to produce and direct the script – and as a member of the American Theatre Critics Association, I believe that disqualifies me as an objective critic of the work, even in a setting such as this.

Back in April 2017, Stolzer was one of five authors whose work was produced as part of Outvisible’s first-ever Detroit New Works Festival, and I was honored to be one of the small team of judges she asked for feedback. As such, I attended all five staged readings and offered verbal commentary at the festival to both the audience at large and privately to Galea. In addition, I also provided individual written feedback to each of the authors. Plus, I was in full agreement that of the scripts given a reading, Stolzer’s was ready for production with little or no additional work needed. (It also helped it was the one Galea really, really wanted to direct herself!)

So while I suspect nothing I contributed made a bit of a difference in the end result, I must refrain from offering any additional commentary about the show other than what’s above and in The Bottom Line below.

The Bottom Line: A timely and thought-provoking show that is guaranteed to generate much needed discussion – heated and otherwise.

“Unsportsmanlike Conduct” continues through Oct. 7. For complete details, CLICK HERE!

Danielle Wright and Jeremy Kucharek

Edited for clarity Oct. 6, 2018