Andrea Lepcio has an ear for poetic language that feels real, for richly varied voices, and for the secrets that pave the way to tragedy.
In One Nation Under, as she follows Judge Arlene Stanton's attempts to become a Supreme Court justice and to get her son out of contract work in Iraq, Lepcio digs deeply into the messy psychology of a diverse set of characters. If she sometimes loses focus, her talent is still considerable. Director Tye Blue presents a straightforward, streamlined rendering and makes the most of the light, humorous moments sprinkled throughout this weighty drama.
Eric Stanton (an endearing Jon Eiswerth), a one-time celebrity hacker, ends a long run of joblessness when he signs on to work for Halliburton. His mother, Arlene (a dramatic Olivia Negron), becomes heartsick with worry, but not so much that she cannot aggressively pursue her own career when Wesley Hanna (Joel Haberli) begins vetting her for the coveted judicial position (and for his own purposes). When, thanks to Wesley's connections, Eric is assigned Darcee Washington (Chante Lewis) as a bodyguard, all involved become deeply invested in Darcee's future. Or, Lepcio suggests, all should, but the "adults" in the picture are too self-absorbed.
Darcee is unflaggingly sympathetic — a single mother of a young son with asthma who leaves her home in the Bronx for the Army in order to pay for his medical treatment. Lewis stands out in the role, sweet but never saccharine. When Eric writes home of his devotion to her, Arlene's assistant Quinta (Toks Olagundoye) embarks on a journey to help Darcee's family, including her sister Lilifreida (Chrystal Stone). The lesbian affair that ensues between Quinta and Lilifreida, however, seems unlikely and unnecessarily complicates the narrative.
But something Wesley tells Arlene boils this occasionally overambitious story down to its powerful crux: Explaining how their rescue mission began, he says simply, "I felt your need."
Presented by Three Chicks Theatre
at Theatre 54, 244 W. 54th St., NYC.
Aug. 21-Sept. 13. Mon., Tue., Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m. (Additional performance Wed., Sept. 3.)
(212) 352-3101 or (866) 811-4111 or www.theatermania.com.