Slaughterhouse Five  

Just closed after a short run at Studio 1398 is Little Mountain Lion Productions’ presentation of “Slaughterhouse Five” – a stage adaptation of the Kurt Vonnegut novel of the same name.

Having never read the novel or knowing much about it I came with no preconceptions as to what I was about to see.  The play would have to stand or fall on its own as a work for the theatre.  Unfortunately it fell with a resounding thud.

What was presented was an incoherent and self-indulgent mish mash that went from nowhere to nowhere leaving a trail of boredom in its wake.

The performances were lackluster with only one actor, Steve James, occasionally rising above the material to provide a characterization one could relate to.

A particular irritant was the failure to provide a program or at least a cast list.  All it would have taken was $5 worth of photocopying.  But having seen the show I can well understand the reluctance of those involved in it to leave behind any documentary evidence of their participation.