“Unbecoming Tragedy”
Long Wharf Theatre
Long Wharf Theatre is currently presenting the one-man play, “Unbecoming Tragedy,” a compelling new work written and performed by Terrence Riggins. Focusing on Riggins locked in a claustrophobic prison cell, this play chronicles his journey from being in jail to him transforming his experience into a piece of theater. This is not to minimize Riggins’ situation—this play almost places one in the prison cell with him.
He frequently refers to the theatrical fourth wall as “brick face” and he wonders whether it is made of concrete or if, right behind it, there is an audience watching him. Of course, just seeing “Unbecoming Tragedy,” one knows that Riggins has lived through a hellish existence and managed to turn it into art. But his transformation is extremely moving, making “Unbecoming Tragedy” at Long Wharf Theatre a worthwhile, touching experience that you will certainly want to see.
This play is performed without a break (it is ninety minutes, with no intermission), but the frequent blackouts between scenes and the jailers continually either watching Riggins or knocking on his prison door give the sense of a great deal of time passing. The set, expertly designed by Omid Akbari, is of a very simple prison cell, with basically a bed, as well as a chalk board for Riggins to try to document how long he has been in jail. Without giving too much away, the savior for this actor/playwright is definitely theater, especially the works of August Wilson and “A Raisin in the Sun.” Several sheets of paper and a pen are shoved under his prison door and Riggins uses his writing into a way of escaping exactly where he is.
Director Cheyenne Barboza has paced “Unbecoming Tragedy” very well and Barboza works in perfect accordance with Riggins, keeping the play from ever feeling like it is too much or too little. During this show, one learns a lot of this actor/playwright’s past and just how low he has sunk to wind up in prison. The costumes designed by Devario D. Simmons are basically simple, but the use of extraordinary projections (provided by the talented Hannah Tran) quite literally bring the walls of the jail cell to life.
Indeed, one sees pictures of his mother, as well as a girl he loved as a child, though the most significant images are the posters of such plays as “The Piano Lesson” and “Gem of the Ocean.” Shakespeare is also a life line for Riggins and the playwright has provided some inventive, funny revisions of famous speeches from Shakespeare’s plays.
The lighting design (courtesy of Joseph Fonseca) is enormously effective and one of the most beautiful and hopeful moments in this play (not to be revealed here) is the use of light to make a connection between Riggins and the audience watching the play. And, whenever “Unbecoming Tragedy” seems like it might go off track, the playwright and the director always provide the needed touches to bring the show back into focus.
In “Unbecoming Tragedy,” Riggins’ continued talking to the prison wall as “brick face” brings to mind the film “Cast Away” and how Tom Hanks spoke to a soccer ball to maintain his sanity of being alone on an island. As one watches “Unbecoming Tragedy,” the story of Riggins’ unique journey is a plaintive cry that one can hold close and find a sense of comfort in. This play at Long Wharf Theatre is a richly emotional experience, filled with both humor and sorrow, and “Unbecoming Tragedy” can most certainly be recommended.
“Unbecoming Tragedy” runs through June 1, 2025 at Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, CT. For tickets and more information, please visit https://www.longwharf.org.
Photo: Terrence Riggins
Reviews by Zander Opper 