'Skin' disturbing look at the abuse of power

Lead actors excel in Salt Lake Acting Company production

SKIN IN FLAMES, Salt Lake Acting Company, through Feb. 24 (363-7522 or saltlakactingcompany.org), running time: 90 minutes, no intermission

"Skin in Flames" brings ugliness to life. Some people, certainly, will not want to see this play.

We who live in the United States already know about United Nations employees who, instead of protecting the fearful and starving, used their power to coerce vulnerable women into having sex with them. That tragedy made the news several years ago. There are those who will not want to watch it acted out.

Those who do go to the Salt Lake Acting Company production of Guillem Clua's award-winning play will find it powerful.

The production, translated by D.J. Sanders and directed by Roger Benington, stars Paul Kiernan as a medical doctor employed by the United Nations in an unnamed country. Deena Marie Manzanares plays Ida, a young mother who is grateful to him because he is caring for her sick daughter.

Dr. Brown's power over Ida contrasts neatly with a second relationship at the heart of Clua's plot. An American photojournalist, played by Morgan Lund, has returned to the unnamed country to receive an award for a shot he snapped 20 years ago, during the country's civil war. His photo was of a little girl being tossed by a bomb blast. Her clothes were on fire.

Now the photographer is being interviewed by a young woman, played by Kenya Rene. She works for the only newspaper that this country's government has not shut down. As the play progresses, he becomes vulnerable to her.

Though the two stories about power happen at different times in the same day, the story of the interview and the story of the sex act run simultaneously within one scene.

Clua's use of time is fascinating, as is Benington's interpretation of Clua's stage directions. At several points in this production, the lighting and music combine to transcend not only the time difference of a few hours but to somehow transcend the years.

Also excellent are Kevin Myhre's seedy set, Manzanares' acting of Ida and Kiernan in the role of Dr. Brown. He physically portrays his character's twistedness.

Lund and Rene are fine in their roles. However, their portion of the script is not completely convincing.

The female journalist has suffered, to be sure. And the photographer has also suffered. And as we are watching the play we are caught up in their drama. Only later do we question whether their emotions — all the rage, guilt and grief of these two characters — are completely justified.

Sensitivity rating: A sex act simulated on stage. Other violent sex acts are offstage. One of the female characters is topless, briefly. Profanity.

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