Description

No Strings Theatre Company presents the critically acclaimed entertaining and engaging Off-Broadway and regional theatre favorite, "Brilliant Traces" written by Cindy Lou Johnson and directed by No Strings Theatre Company's Artistic Director, Ceil Herman. "Brilliant Traces" stars Rachel Young and Carlos Rubalcava, opens Friday, June 6 and runs through Sunday, June 22 at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. At the start of the play, Rosannah DeLuce (Rachel Young) a panicked, nearly delirous young woman in a wet wedding gown, bursts in on Henry Harry (Carlos Rubalcava) a hermit asleep and covered on his bed by a pile of blankets in a remote, snowbound cabin in Alaska. He is hiding out from his past. She is fleeing from her future. They meet in a present that is humorous, spiritual, slightly nuts, and intense.

"Brilliant Traces" was described by BACKSTAGE as "a kooky and off-kilter play." It deals humorously and movingly with issues of love and family performed by two actors with a few props and only one costume change between them. The focus is on the actors and their richly drawn characters, what they say and don't say, what they project and what they mean. There is a sense of mystery and danger throughout the play which resolves itself as Rosannah and Henry Harry gradually reveal their stories and find redemption and comfort in each other, against all odds.

The play's title comes from a poem written by Johnson's mother, Avah Pevlor Johnson. The playwright comments "I"ve always loved that particular poem - it's my favorite poem of my mother's. The poem is about seeking the higher ground. The point is not to just struggle, or to survive, but to do so with some kind of dignity and beauty."

Rachel Young has appeared on stages in Las Cruces and El Paso for the past five years. She was seen in NSTC's "Big Love", "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Dracula" at NMSU/ASTC and "Twelfth Night" and "Macbeth" at UTEP. Carlos Rubalcava has performed in Juarez and El Paso. This is his first performance at the Black Box Theatre. His most recent performance was in the UTEP production of "The Laramie Project." Scenic and Lighting Design for "Brilliant Traces" is by Peter Herman and Costume Design is by Elaine Childs. Assistant Directors are Ken Eastlack and Ivy White, and Michaela Montes is the Stage Manager.

Credits

Reviews

A 'brilliant' look at pain, sadness
'Brilliant Traces' shows why people need people

- By Joel Courtney, Las Cruces Bulletin

"Brilliant Traces," the latest production at the Black Box Theatre, brings something new to the Las Cruces stage.

The story, directed by Ceil Herman, brings Rosannah DeLuce (Rachel Young) barging into Henry Harry's (Carlos Rubalcava) Alaskan shack during a blizzard wearing only a snow-soaked wedding dress.

Both are hiding from the pains in their lives, and both take turns yelling and comforting each other, pushing each other to the brink before backing off again to regroup.

While the story is funny, it is not the traditional dark comedy one would normally see at the Black Box. "Brilliant Traces" isn't funny in the silly way, but funny in the way real life can sometimes be so harsh one can only laugh.

Young is her usual amazing self on the stage, jumping from pure rage to near-catatonic depression as DeLuce.

Rubalcava was a pleasant surprise for Las Cruces. Although he has been involved in theater for years, all of his previous performances have been in the Juarez and El Paso area. I can only hope this is the first of many future appearances in Las Cruces for him.

Performances for "Brilliant Traces" are at 8 p.m. Fridays, June 13 and 20, at 8 p.m. Saturdays, June 14 and 21, at 2:30 p.m. Sundays, June 15 and 22, and at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 19.

Seating

No seating plan has been posted.