Theater Review: A Steady Rain

Emotional Play Bursts with Thundering Performances from Jackman, Craig
By Lauren Yarger
You might know Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig as their film personas, the Wolverine and James Bond respectively, but in A Steady Rain at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Broadway, for 90 gripping minutes they are no one else but Denny and Joey, two Chicago cops and longtime buddies who recall a few traumatic days that changed their lives.

The absorption into character, complete with Chicago accents coached by Jess Platt, succeeds in part due to fine stage acting by the film stars, superbly directed by John Crowley, but it’s really Keith Huff’s play with its compelling characters and interestingly different structure that is the star. The action already has taken place and it unfolds in narrative, with the two men telling their parts of the story, sometimes in soliloquy, sometimes re-enacting it together. At times, their memories become so vivid that the tenement buildings or wooded areas they describe come to life behind them on the otherwise stark set (Scott Pask, who also designed the costumes) which offers only two chairs with single light fixtures hovering over them where the “interrogation” of what really happened takes place.

The two boyhood friends became cops together and support each other after being passed up three times for detective. Joey puts up with Danny’s constant physical bullying and racially charged, foul language and in return, Danny and his wife, Connie, and their kids adopt him, offering him a place to stay, some home cooked meals and even some unwanted blind dates. Huff quickly clouds initial thoughts that all is how it appears on the surface, however.

Danny makes extra money to provide for his family by taking bribes and shaking down prostitutes, including Rhonda, with whom he has an ongoing affair. Joey, meanwhile, is in love with Connie. The storm bursts one night when a drive-by shooting critically injures Danny’s son. He obsessively pursues Rhonda’s pimp, whom he believes is responsible. His judgment becomes clouded and he and Joey end up handing a victim over to his killer. Soon, it’s not clear who the biggest threat to this family is: the pimp who vows revenge, the out-of-control father trying to protect his child or the mild-mannered wife stealer who rats out his partner.

The dialogue is riveting and makes for as exciting a police drama you’ll see on stage. Crowley expertly places the men close together when their stories jibe, and further apart when they differ. They also act in synchronization many times, as partners, and as opposite sides of the dichotomy they become.

Steady seems to be doing steady business at the box office, which will be good news for the 007 film producers who are among the production’s Broadway backers. As good as the actors are, they can’t help but resume their movie star status after the show, however, when long lines of people, many of them women lamenting the fact that the play doesn’t offer a scene with either of the well-built actors removing a shirt, line up at the stage door in hopes of snapping a photo.

A Steady Rain plays at the Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 45th Street, NYC through Dec. 6. For tickets call (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250.

Christians might also like to know:
• Very strong language throughout
• Sexual dialogue
• God’s name taken in vain