The Plume
By Mike Rice
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Company Name: Mike Rice
City/State: Local
Genre: Theatre
Ratings: R (adult content)
Premiere: Yes
Warnings: Adult language, Adult subjects, Simulated violence, Gunshots
Venue: City Stage
Show Times:
| Fri 7/22 | 9:00 PM |
| Sat 7/23 | 9:00 PM |
| Tue 7/26 | 7:30 PM |
| Thu 7/28 | 7:30 PM |
| Sat 7/30 | 7:30 PM |
Description:
An explosion has ripped through a West Virginia insecticide plant and the fumes are killing everyone who comes in contact. Among those still alive are some people in an office building where a contentious day-long legal deposition has stretched past 5 o’clock. Don't count on anything banding them together, especially when the deposed witness is the plant owner and the two attorneys hate each other. Will they get out alive? Or will they be done in by the chemicals _ or each other?
Cast/Crew:
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Pete Bakely | J.D. Renshaw |
| Colin Fewell | Matt Devers, Esq. |
| Nicole Hall | Lindsay |
| Kelly Main | Michelle Talbot, Esq. |
| Bradley Thomas | Kabir |
| Scott Cordes | Director |
| Alexa Cioffi-Abt | Sound and Tech Coordinator |
Past Fringe Shows:
| Show | When/Where |
|---|---|
| Slurry | 2018/Unicorn Theatre |
| John and Leslie are in the Copy Room Again | 2016/Phosphor Studio |
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“The Plume” is one of the most hair-raising, back-sweating and nerve-rattling shows I’ve seen in quite some time!
Told in 45 minutes of real time, “The Plume” is about 5 people stuck in a building in West Virginia where chemicals from a plant explosion are killing everyone outside. One of the five people are the owner of the chemical plant.
This play has gun violence, a lot of profanity, a constant tone of malevolence and gallows humor. Definitely not for kids. But it has a lot to say. I heartily recommend it.
The Plume is certainly ambitious, and it’s carried by some extremely talented actors. A stand out for me was Kelly Main as Michelle. Always excited to see her onstage!
Thank you Mr!
I highly recommend this show!
The plot is gripping, the stakes are high, and the performances are outstanding. The play ponders our divisions and the deep and dark corporate influence on our world. First rate performances and a beautifully executed production. Run to see this!
The Plume is a master class in the use of tension. I was at the edge of my seat, waiting to see how it resolved. Definitely worth seeing!
An intense play with fabulous acting. This show includes complex characters who show their true colors in desperate times.
Go see this play. “The Plume” takes the audience on a wild ride through different levels of fear. There is the explosion outside, then another, followed by billowing smoke that envelopes their building. Slowly, the group is gripped by the realization that the everyone outside the building is dying — and the probable culprit is sitting in the room. He is the wealthy, unscrupulous owner of the chemical plant now belching toxic smoke throughout the city. He and his lawyer have spent the last several days in a deposition, evading questions, obfuscating and using every legal tactic to avoid responsibility for polluting the town. The group’s antagonism prevents them from working together, even as two of the characters hustle to cover air vents to keep out the toxic fumes. The caustic banter among the self-righteous plaintiff’s attorney, the sleazy defense lawyer and the good ol’ boy chemical plant owner drips with realism and venom. But as the toxic cloud looms ever closer, those deadly fumes suddenly cease to be the deadliest things in the room. The story keeps audience members on the edge of their seats at the same time that the grim humor of the squabbling makes these characters seem all too real. This is easily the best drama that I’ve seen in this year’s Fringe Festival.
So many good ideas in this script – it has tremendous potential to become a great full length play, and it’s getting a great start at Fringe! Strong performances from the ensemble and great, high-stakes writing make this a Fringe highlight. Don’t miss it!
A strong piece using adult language and violence to convey the perilous world of environmental catastrophe via political and economic greed. Acting was dynamic, it took a bit of time to divorce my hatred of the actors from the hatred of the characters, a testiment to the actors, director and playwright. A grim yet open ended conclusion, yet such is life. A diverse cast of 5 that worked well together.
I loved the acting and the set, I think it was one of the better acted plays we’ve seen this weekend.
But I do wish it had been longer. Everything seemed rushed. The end escalated really quick and I was left wanting more. My only complaint is that it could be twice as long and still enjoyable.