INTERVIEW: In ‘Perp,’ a suspect needs to find the real killer
Photo: Perp, written by Lyle Kessler, stars Craig Mums Grant and Ali Arkane. Photo courtesy of Edward T. Morris / Provided by Everyman Agency with permission.
The Barrow Group continues its season of riveting theater with Perp by acclaimed playwright Lyle Kessler. The gripping drama involves a storyline reminiscent of a binge-worthy Netflix series.
Here’s the pitch: There’s a vicious killer on the loose, and a man named Douglass has come under the scrutiny of local detectives. His only way to find justice is to become a detective himself and find the true killer.
Kessler is an accomplished playwright who began his career with Lee Strasberg at The Actors Studio. His plays have been performed on Broadway (The Watering Place and Orphans), and today he is the director of The Actors Studio Playwright/Directors Unit.
“It was an inner journey not based on external issues,” Kessler stated in an email interview on the inspiration behind the play. “Unconscious issues.”
Coincidentally, although Perp is a work of fiction, the play’s narrative aligns with some of the allegations in the media about a police detective whose professional conduct has been questioned in light of dismissed convictions.
At the center of the play is the emotional journey of Douglass. Here’s how Kessler sees the protagonist’s arc: “Innocence betrayed and then enlightenment and emotional growth without losing that kernel of basic decency on his journey.”
The playwright’s time with The Barrow Group has been productive. He called the working environment of the famed theater company both wonderful and joyful. In fact, Barrow’s Lee Brock is directing Perp, which continues through April 11 at their West 36th Street space.
For the development of the piece, Kessler had the opportunity to work on the play during the acting class he runs on Mondays.
“A first reading helps you determine if the play is ready for a paying audience,” he stated. “The response of friends and theater professionals hearing the first reading determines if the play is ready. I have the advantage of working on the play in the acting class I teach on Mondays. I also work on the play at The Actors Studio, and now I have the wonderful availability of The Barrow Group to work on my plays.”
There have been some changes throughout the development of the show, but it has largely remained intact. One modification came from the actor Alec Baldwin, who actually appeared on Broadway in Kessler’s Orphans.
“It came out almost fully formed,” he wrote. “I made a major change towards the end of the play before I had a first reading. Alec Baldwin directed a staged reading at The Actors Studio and suggested a change in a location of one of the scenes. Lee Brock is directing the play and making changes that help the play realize itself.”
Perp has now been added to Kessler’s illustrious résumé, which includes such works as Robbers and Possession. Perhaps top billing still goes to Orphans, one of the most celebrated plays of the last few decades.
“The play has become a phenomenon produced repeatedly in almost every country in the world,” he stated. “It has been playing to sold out houses for over two years in South Korea. They are also working on a revival on London’s West End. Actors adore the three characters and want to play them. The play triggers intense emotions, and actors desire to go there. I somehow unconsciously tapped onto a universality in the drama that has reached all these audiences. Audiences identify with the struggles of the characters and are deeply moved at the end.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Perp, written by Lyle Kessler, plays through April 11 at The Barrow Group in New York City. Click here for more information and tickets.
