Review
Columbinus
New York Theater Workshop
May 18, 2006
VanLoan
vanloan@nyconstage.org


Based on true events, Columbinus is the theatrical recalling of the Columbine High School massacre. For the public record: Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris entered the Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado on the morning of April 20th. 1999 fully armed with guns and explosives and proceeded to wage a warlike siege upon their fellow teachers and students. When the bloodbath was finished 11 students and 1 teacher were killed with 24 students wounded and Klebold and Harris killing themselves. The show itself is based on discussions with parents, teachers, community leaders and surviving students in addition to diaries and videos left behind by the perpetrators.

Using this information, the first act tries to faithfully reconceive the lives (in and out of school) of Klebold and Harris. The second act reenacts the massacre and its aftermath. In the first act, we learn various personal details about the duo: Harris had a chest deformity; was on anti-depressants; Klebold was a computer whiz. We are also privy to the standard high school drama with its usual suspects (geek, bully, jock, beauty queen etc.). We discover that high school is Hell (surprise, surprise).

The powerful second act brings us into the school that morning with vivid, gut crunching results (the sound design by Martin Desjardins and projection design by J.J. Kaczynski yield powerful results). Through eye witness descriptions from the survivors, we are both fascinated and repulsed.

To critique the show is something of a puzzle. Since we know the outcome, much dramatic suspense is lost. To find fault or harp on questionable motivations (not everyone with horrible high school experiences turn into mass murderers) seems churlish. Rather we watch in a state of unease and disquiet knowing that the dark recesses of adolescence are always just below the reach of adult consciousness. As the show closes, the parents of both young men are interviewed as if they might shed some light upon the situation. Of course, they cannot not and (thankfully) refuse to become scapegoats. As skilful and poignant as Columbinus is, we are left with no answers only questions. Somehow that seems correct.

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