SUBURBIA The Company has more positive attitude than an Up With People convention. They love doing theatre and want you to love watching what they do. Most of the time, that mindset gets you halfway there. So it's a shame that Eric Bogosian's subUrbia script is such a downer. A bunch of late-twentysomethings who have spent most of their lives hanging out at a convenience store, are caught by an audience doing, essentially, nothing. Some have managed to leave the suburbs for periods of time, but they always come back, like this particular mini-mart is the black hole of slack. But Bogosian's words, while kind of depressing and at times amazingly melodramatic, are met with such fine performances that this show really zings along. Joseph Gibson as Buff, a man obsessed with physical pleasure, and J. Damian Gillen as Jeff, a guy who lives in his mind, shine with their sharp delivery and clear intentions. And Kim Heacock gives an intense performance as Bee-Bee. The choice of script should fly in the face of The Company's go-get-'em attitude toward theatre. Instead, it vibrantly gives life to a potentially lifeless situation and is contagious. (Adrienne Martini)
Theatre Week Event: Free beer with admission, Apr 11. Through Apr 19, Thu-Sat, 8pm, at Planet Theatre, 2307 Manor. Tickets: $10 ($7 seniors, students, ACoT). Theatre Week Half-Price Tickets Special: Apr 10 & 17. Running Time: 2 hrs, 15 min.454-TIXS. 472-5143.