Kid Victory

"Kid Victory," the world premiere musical production by John Kander and Greg Pierce, is a haunting and thought-provoking play that will stay with you long after the cast gives their final bows.

Actor Jake Winn gives a fantastic performance of the character of Luke Browst, a teenager returning home from a year-long disappearance. Burdened by his past and deeply changed by his experiences, Luke struggles to not only heal his emotional scars, but to also return to a previous life that no longer fits him.

Pressured by his well-intentioned yet overbearing mother (Christiane Noll) and put off by a caring yet somewhat distant father (Christopher Bloch) at home, Luke only confides in Emily (Sarah Litzsinger), the free-spirited owner of a local store.

"Kid Victory" is not for the faint of heart. In one dramatic scene, Luke's abductor Michael (Jeffery Denman) forces Luke to do a history lesson on Vinland. While the song starts off as an over-the-top performance, it quickly becomes dark and violent before culminating in an assault set to what was previously cheery and upbeat music.

Part of the play's success lies in the grace in which the actors slide between past and present and the comedic and dramatic. A silly song about marbles turns into a heartfelt outburst and a hilarious dance number flows seamlessly into a flashback of Luke with Michael.

The stage is split into three parts: Luke's home, Emily's store and a sparse bedroom which serves the dual role of Luke's bedroom at home during the present and the scene of his assaults when being held by Michael in the past. Each set of the stage seems to represent a different element of Luke's life that he wishes to keep separated. However, much like how the story blends together past and present, these different aspects of his life begin to intersect in dramatic ways.

Perhaps one of the best examples is when Emily and Luke's mother argue in Emily's shop over what's best for Luke in the song, "The Last Thing He Needs." Both Noll and Litzsinger shine in the performance as their characters' argument borders between being a comedic fight and an emotional battle between two women with drastically different personalities and a common goal.

Also of note is Denman's performance as Michael whose presence permeates every facet of Luke's life. Even in scenes in which he has no lines, Denman's symbolic presence manages to draw the attention of not only Luke, but the audience as well. In his song "You, If Anyone," Denman skirts the line between appearing caring and being emotionally dark so well that it left a few of the members in the audience in stunned silence.

"Kid Victory" is the latest collaboration between the legendary composer Kander, who's known for his work on Broadway hits like "Cabaret" and "Chicago," and Pierce, the playwright behind "Slowgirl."

In creating "Kid Victory," Pierce and Kander were drawn to the fact that although there were numerous reports on missing children, few ever asked what happened to them afterward or how they dealt with going back to their previous lives. "Kid Victory" is their attempt at tackling those questions.

The result is a play that faithfully follows the complex inner workings of a teenager who grew up too soon as he tries to face his past, understand his present and decide his future.

"Kid Victory" runs through March 22 at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue in Arlington, VA. For information or tickets, call 703-820-9771 or visit www.signature-theatre.org.