San Diego Arts'Good Boys' at Mandell Weiss Forum Studio
Mo'olelo explores lingering effects of violence How well can we know our children? It’s a common question among parents of angst-filled teens struggling to find their way in the world. But in “Good Boys,” it comes from the white father of a boy involved in a Columbine-type school shooting. James’ rhetorical question is meant as a sort of defense, in response to the relentless prodding by a black father whose son was killed in the shooting. In its last production in residence at La Jolla Playhouse, Mo’olelo continues its mission of presenting socially conscious works with a well-cast, powerful production of Jane Martin’s emotionally charged play. Examining issues of parental responsibility, racial tensions and forgiveness, “Good Boys” peels back layers of “the puzzle of this thing” to get at a sense of healing. Eight years after the shooting, Thomas, still ravaged by the loss of his son, has sought James out to try and make sense of the incident. Thomas is a preacher who cannot preach, his anger seething into silence.  Mike Sears (left) and Robert Barry Fleming Photo: Nick Abadilla James, meanwhile, has cobbled together a cheerless existence of solitude and drink, suppressing his own rage following divorce and years of civil suits. James, defensive and reluctant to talk about the event, tells Thomas that he has had this conversation for the past eight years. There is no meaning, he says. But we get the sense that James has instead formulated a story, rather than truly confronting how the shooting might have happened, and what he is willing to admit about himself and his dead son. During the course of the 90-minute, intermissionless play, James and Thomas go round and round about the details of that day and the events that followed. As they trade accusations, guilt, grief and anger, flashbacks involving their sons reveal how racial tensions and the father-son relationships helped trigger the school violence. Robert Barry Fleming and Mike Sears give strong performances as the two fathers, their verbal sparring constantly ratcheting up the tension. Fleming makes Thomas’ grief palpable. Sears depicts James as a man with a brittle core who was hard on his son except for when it really mattered. When he discovers his son’s homemade bomb, he grips Ethan in a fierce embrace that is equal parts love and hostility. “I should beat you to a pulp, do you understand? I should hurt you,” he says. Jeremy Lelliott’s Ethan has the sort of determinedly nonchalant façade that hides the character’s sense of alienation, anger and humiliation. Sacha Allen gives Marcus, Thomas’ son who was killed during the shooting, the right touch of confidence and bravado. As Thomas’ younger son Corin, Johnny Ray Gill takes what could be a hokey plot point and makes it not only believable but also poignant. Director Seema Sueko does a fine job of moving smoothly between the present conflict and memories, aided in large part by Jason Bieber’s lighting. David F. Weiner’s simple yet effective set evokes the park locale, and further delineates flashback sequences through the use of screens and a stone wall that also provides elevation. Playwright Martin (long suspected to be the pseudonym for former Actors Theatre of Louisville artistic director Jon Jory) demonstrates a keen understanding of human nature and an ability to draw some authentic characters. The play, though, is not without its shortcomings. With such big themes bouncing around, Martin’s wrap-up can feel simplistic. You wouldn’t be too far off if you ultimately saw the play as an indictment of parents – a conclusion that feels a bit too much like a sensational TV show: “When Good Kids Go Bad.” Mostly, though, Mo’olelo capably demonstrates the devastating and long-lasting effects of this kind of all too common violence, crafting an intense, visceral and at times grueling journey well worth taking.
 Jennifer Chung Klam About the author: Jennifer Chung Klam is an editor at The Daily Transcript and a freelance arts and culture writer. More by this author Subscribe to Arts:
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