Whether sanity is in the eye or the mind of the beholder is the question driving Joe Penhall's 2000 drama, which also seemingly takes a leaf from John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation. After being picked up by police for causing a disturbance, Christopher (Steph N. Davis), a 24-year-old black man, has been held the requisite 28 days at the psych ward of his city's hospital, diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Bruce (Bob Doll), the young doctor assigned his case, sees unsettling evidence that Christopher should be held for further evaluation, such as the patient's claim that a bowl of oranges is blue and, even more suspect, that he's one of 45 children of deposed Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. In what should be a formality, Bruce brings in his supervisor, Robert (Wes Martens), to bolster his suspicions. But Robert, seeing Christopher's existence as living proof of his own pet theories about cultural relevance and institutional racism, takes over as Christopher's doctor. The remainder of the script follows a power struggle between the doctors over Christopher's fate, each doctor seeing his own career and reputation riding on the results.
Davis' staging shifts the action from London to New York City and Americanizes the characters, which does little to make them any more accessible or to enhance Penhall's themes. Although the characters are antagonistic enough, the lack of friction between Doll and Martens is a curious factor that undermines the staging's dramatic tension. Clearly older than his role, Doll strains credibility as the young shrink. Martens' Robert is more avuncular than authoritarian toward Bruce, showing little of the treachery and duplicity that mark the older man's personality. In a nice turn, Davis' Christopher vacillates between agitated distress and bravado-laced hostility toward his medical caretakers.
Presented by and at the Orange Curtain Theatre, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m. Sun. 3 p.m. Jan 12-Feb 3. (949) 412-3252. www.theorangecurtaintheatre.org.