LA Review: 'Cages'

Leonard Manzella's world-premiere drama "Cages" weaves the startling stories of several mentally disturbed criminals into a harrowing examination of myriad conflicts among imprisoned patients, psychologists, and institutional administrators. The playwright—whose background includes several years as a psychotherapist—reportedly based the script on his experiences in the field. He appears to be aiming for thoughtful ruminations on the core of humanity that bind ostensibly respectable citizens with downtrodden individuals who fall into a life of crime.

The shortcomings of this admirably intended endeavor become apparent during a meandering first act. Coming across more as a string of case studies than a dramatization, the diffuse narrative quickly turns tedious. Things improve marginally after intermission, but the production ultimately scores more points for a strong acting ensemble and creative staging effects than for its largely inaccessible dramaturgy.

The central character is Dr. Thomas Morri (John Nielsen), who returns to the administrative segregation unit of a state prison in an unspecified U.S. city. The psychotherapist had been dismissed from his duties there several years prior, following a prisoner's suicide that occurred during the doctor's watch. He is given a second chance at working with inmates in group-therapy sessions. The patients are mostly hostile and confrontational, but Morri takes a special interest in Henderson (Jemal McNeil), who has multiple personalities. The doctor becomes frustrated with the interference of a young female supervisor (Arlene Santana) and a belligerent prison guard (Matt Kirkwood). Inevitable acts of violence lead to an outcome that isn't a victory for anyone. The story awkwardly unfolds between long sequences in which we hear the prisoners' backstories. There's almost no sense of narrative progression until midway through the second act.

On the plus side, director Jon Lawrence Rivera has elicited several bold and intriguing portrayals. Nielsen provides intelligence and moments of empathy as a man struggling with personal demons while making a sincere effort to aid his patients. McNeil is superlative as the severely psychotic and manipulative Henderson. Playing a murderous creep who stirs up bloodcurdling memories of Hannibal Lecter, Steve Apostolina stands out amid the splendid array of characterizations from the actors playing the other patients (William Stanford Davis, Daniel V. Graulau, and Wiley B. Oscar). Robert Selander's set and Adam Blumenthal's lighting conjure the foreboding mood of the dingy prison.

Here's hoping Manzella finds more-successful ways to dramatize his worthwhile premise.

Presented by LDG Productions at the Stella Adler Theatre, 6773 Hollywood Blvd., 2nd floor, Hollywood. March 9–April 1. Fri. and Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. (Additional performance Thu., March 22, 8 p.m.) (800) 838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com.