'Shawshank' Onstage: A Great Escape
Desiderio's Dinner Theatre gets serious in a big, winning way for fall
I didn’t know what to expect from a stage version of “The Shawshank Redemption,” so my anticipation for the show at Desiderio’s Dinner Theater included an above average amount of curiosity. As a fan of the film of the same name, it would be interesting to see how the sprawling story could be squeezed onto a narrow stage in a banquet room.
As it turns out, thanks to a fine cast and inspired direction by Jay Desiderio, “Shawshank” is just about a perfect fit, in more ways than one. The stage adaptation of Stephen King’s novella keeps the narrative tight, the dialogue sharp and the prison action compelling. It’s a good show.
Plus, there are some bits that are quite funny. No surprise there. The writers, Dave Johns and Owen O’Neill, are best known as comedians in their native Britain.
Still, comic relief does not a comedy make, making this choice for the theater’s fall production a departure. Desiderio’s is best known for its adult comedies, family dramadies, romances, mysteries and sentimental favorites. Jay Desiderio knows his clientele and generally he aims for tones that are light and bright.
Sometimes, though, he likes to mix it up. Though neither light nor bright, “The Shawshank Redemption” has some rich tones of its own, especially in those deep gray areas where so-called civilized society can get so messed up. Desiderio’s went into this territory a few years ago, and had a hit, with another show about guilt and innocence, “A Time to Kill,” from the John Grisham novel. It may be no coincidence that one of that drama’s heavy hitters, Kinzy Bown, is back for “Shawshank,” as the storyteller, Red.
Andy Dufresne (Brian Tabek) is the central character of Red’s story, though the “redemption” of the title is his. Andy had been a successful banker before he was wrongly convicted of the murders of his wife and her lover. Early on we watch as Andy refuses to mold himself to prison life, while Red, who has placed himself above the fray, tries to size him up. The evolution of what turns out to be an abiding friendship pulls us along as their “years” fly by.
Tabek and Brown don’t do it alone. Actor John Profeta does a quick job of making us detest Warden Stammas, a Bible-thumping tyrant with a soul as dark as any murderer’s. He’s aided and abetted by Geno Delmaro as the crooked guard Hadley, an expert at looking the other way while looking out for himself.
Their corrupt prison kingdom stretches along the width of the shallow stage. In place of the living room or apartment that we are used to seeing at Desiderio’s, there are grim prison walls (by Nicholino Ingrao and Margo Davis) enclosing areas furnished only with folding chairs. Effective staging by Diane Saeli, sound and light work by S. Abel Smith and subtly effective light design by the always-spot-on Brian Cavanagh smoothly move the action from cellblocks to a prison library, laundry, office and roof. The power of effective suggestion is hard at work in this production, even for those unfamiliar with the film or book.
And the play is its own creature. Andy’s treatment at the hands of the prison gang known as “the Sisters” is far rougher (though not explicit), and we learn specifics of the horrible crimes that sent “good guys” Red and Brooksie (Lawrence Gregory Smith) to prison. Rounding out the rest of the prison population are Andrew Canada as a guard, and inmates Nate Chateaux, John Kennedy, Billy Horn Altamirano, Daniel J. Greer and Andrew Salamone, all doing fine work with the tightly choreographed action and dialogue.
Altogether, this very personal story of failed justice, corruption and resilience made for an entertaining and even inspiring evening out. I have to say that “The Shawshank Redemption” is well-worth a trip to Cheektowaga, with the bonus of enjoying a nice Italian meal (or steak) for the price of admission.
The play continues at Desiderio’s Dinner Theatre (at Bobby J’s Italian American Grille), 204 Como Park Boulevard, Cheektowaga, through Dec. 1. Shows are most Thursday and Saturdays (dinner at 6 p.m. show at 7:30), with Sunday matinees (meal at 1 p.m., show at 2:30) and some extra performances. Tickets are $64 to $74, depending on entrée. Call 716-395-3207 for reservations and more information. Also check out the Desiderio’s Facebook page for specific dates and more.
(Group photo: John Profeta (sitting, at left), Kinzy Brown, Brian Tabak and Lawrence Gregory Smith; (standing) Geno Delmaro, Andrew Salamone, Nate Chateaux, John Kennedy, Daniel J. Greer, Billy Horn Altramirano and Andrew Canada.)
(Second photo: Brian Tabek and Kinzy Brown.)