Moving "from a fictional high school in suburban America to Littleton, Colorado," Stephen Karam and PJ Paparelli's columbinus rivets with its ability to evoke memories of the viewer's own high school experience even as it documents the shooting rampage that took place at Columbine High School in April 1999.
In the first half, teenage angst and cruelty are revealed in vivid detail. When, for instance, an arrogant, self-righteous jock (JoaquÃn Pérez-Campbell) and an aggressive prepster (Bobby Steggert) taunt a male classmate, the action freezes. Framed in white light by designer Dan Covey, the target reveals his feelings for the jock and his confusion over his sexual identity.
Other monologues and acts of cruelty populate the first half. A religious girl (Nicole Lowrance) confronts God about her doubts, and a young rebel (Carmen M. Herlihy) describes her self-loathing. In a locker room, boys berate a fellow student simply because he's an outsider.
Throughout, theatregoers will identify with or recognize these characters rather than focus on the event that inspired the play. But as this is happening, one can't help but become aware of which teens will go on a shooting rampage, and here columbinus chills: Given the right combination of circumstances, such violence could happen anywhere.
Paparelli (who also directs) has expertly orchestrated both the swirling collage of the first act and the almost unbearable linear path toward the shootings of the second, in which Karl Miller and Will Rogers play the killers with volcanic intensity. When the shooting begins, Martin Desjardins' sound design literally shakes the theatre. All of this takes place on scenic designer Tony Cisek's spare set, which consists of a few school chairs and two tables on a stage that's marked like a gymnasium floor. It's all uncomfortably and frighteningly familiar.
Presented by and at New York Theatre Workshop 79 E. Fourth St., NYC. May 22-June 11. Tue., 7 p.m.; Wed.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 3 and 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 and 7 p.m. (212) 239-6200 or www.telecharge.com.