'dark play or stories for boys' Virtual Perfection

"The question, the choice; do I tell the truth or do I make it up?" That is what fourteen year old Nick asks himself over and over in the Chicago premier of ‘dark play or story for boys'. In Collaboraction's latest production playwright Carlos Murillo has penned a fascinating story of psychosis, deception and love in a virtual reality. The idea was hatched by reading a 2005 Vanity Fair feature where a teenager's on-line chat room manipulation of another classmate leads to attempted murder.

Nick is a troubled teen who devises virtual characters in a chat room that ensnares sixteen year old Adam who, like Nick longs for love and acceptance. A "dark play" is explained as a game where only certain players know the rules and others don't even know they're playing. The game quickly spirals out of control and Nick is left with the ultimate resolution. The play covers a myriad of subject matters, including teenage angst, bullying, homophobia and love.

Director Anthony Moseley, one of Chicago's finest, has put together an exceptional cast. Mr. Moseley has an amazing eye for new talent (Lucas Neff in Jon; need I say more) and Clancy McCartney who plays Nick is one of the most engaging actors to burst on the Chicago theatre scene. Mr. McCartney, commands every scene he is in (and he is in every scene), and gives his other actors much truthfulness to work off of. The range of emotion is huge and at times McCartney seems to be channeling the late Heath Ledger as he takes his character from angelic to demonic to sadistic then back to sympathetic teenager. This is surely a Jeff worthy performance.

As the ‘victim' of Nick's deception, Aaron Kirby is also an exciting new find and has great chemistry with McCartney. The rest of the ensemble is also fantastic, including Olivia Dustman as Nick's virtual creation and Jane deLaubenfels and Sorin Brouwers as the female and male Neitzens.

As in all Collaboraction shows, the technical aspects are superior. Of note here is Michael Reed's dramatic lighting and Stephen Ptacek's phenomenal sound design actually becomes part of the story.

Collaboraction's ‘dark play or stories for boys' runs through February 26th at the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. For tickets please visit www.collaboraction.org or call 312-226-9633.

RELATED: Interview with 'dark play or stories for boys' playwright Carlos Murillo