The story of Leopold and Loeb is transformed into a fascinating and intense musical.
In "Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story" manipulation takes center stage.
More than a simple plot device, manipulation is this two-man musical's central subject, oozing throughout the show like an irrepressible, elemental force. The intimate black box of West Orange's Luna Stage offers spectators no place to hide from the ever-mounting tension. The result is a wonderfully gripping ninety minutes where we are never certain who is controlling our sympathies.
The musical, written by Stephen Dolginoff, is based on the real-life story of Nathan Leopold (played here by Joe Bigelow) and Richard Loeb (Dean Linnard) -- the infamous Chicago men who, in 1924, murdered young Bobby Franks for little apparent reason other than the joy of proving they could get away with it. Their trial became a national sensation, with Clarence Darrow arguing eloquently against the death penalty. Darrow ultimately saved the murderers' lives, but offered no answers to the question of why these intelligent, wealthy and privileged young men did what they did.
The story has sparked a long string of literary, cinematic, and theatrical adaptations, but "Thrill Me" is the first musical version. (The show has had enormous international success since premiering Off-Broadway in 2005; this is its first New Jersey production.)
Here Dolginoff puts forth his own dark interpretation of the men's motives. Leopold and Loeb have a sexual history that Leopold treasures but Loeb downplays. A steady diet of Nietzsche has convinced Loeb that the two are supermen -- and what better way to seize upon this great quality than to masterfully execute increasingly brazen arsons and burglaries?
In the hopes of drawing Loeb ever closer, Leopold follows his companion all the way to murder, and when apparent sloppiness leads the police to the two men, we watch as the pressure of a public trial strains their relationship.
Director Cheryl Katz makes the most of Luna's small space by arranging her stage with the audience on either side of a long, narrow playing space -- putting the audience in the position of interrogators of the two men. Both Linnard and Bigelow are expertly subtle, betraying just enough to make their characters' emotions clear without losing their composure. After the murder, as both characters try to keep calm as their terror grows, Bigelow and Linnard succeed in showing the gradual but steady deterioration of the men's confidence.
"Thrill Me" features only two actors, but in reality Luna puts on a three-man show -- Andy Peterson sustains a bold presence on the piano, pounding through Dolginoff's dramatic score with nimble vigor. Dolginoff's songs weave smoothly into the action -- and make surprising dramatic sense. Listen to Loeb, for example, singing his increasingly desperate ploys to get young Franks into his car, or Leopold musically demanding Loeb thrill him with sex. It's as if spoken dialogue isn't enough for these characters to express the intensity of their feelings, leaving no other option but to sing.
A different production of "Thrill Me" is currently planned for the 2016-17 season. But Luna's more modestly-scaled version should not get lost in the shuffle. It offers a powerful portrait of the ways intimacy and exploitation are sometimes indistinguishable in relationships. Leopold and Loeb work diligently toying with one another, and in Luna's space we do not simply watch them at work -- we are invited completely into their world, an alternately scary and very exciting place to be.
Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story
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Luna Stage, 555 Valley Rd., West Orange.
Through December 20.
Tickets: $22 to $37; available online or at 973-395-5551
Patrick Maley may be reached at patrickjmaley@gmail.com. Find him on Twitter@PatrickJMaley. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.
