Thom Pain

Thom Pain (based on nothing) is playing at the Signature Theatre located at 420 West 42nd Street. It runs seventy minutes with no intermission. The play closes on December 2, 2018.

It debut in London and premiered Off-Broadway at the DR2 Theatre from February 1, 2005 to September 4, 2005 starring James Urbaniak. James wan nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance.

Will Eno is the playwright. His play Thom Pain (based on nothing) was a finalist for Pulitzer Prize in Drama.

Michael C. Hall is known for his role as Dexter Morgan in Dexter from 2006-2013. He was nominated five times for a Prime Time Emmy’s for lead actor in Dexter (2008-2012).

Thom Pain (Michael C. Hall) is on the stage in the dark. He lights a cigarette twice, it goes out. Tom greets the audience. He then moves to right side still in the dark. He makes a comment about leaving the stage dark for a while when the lights come on.

Comments are made about various things. Like remember a boy on a bike with no socks or shoes, then he goes into something else. We hear someone leaving the theatre.

Tom says he going to bring someone on stage and walks around the orchestra, goes back on stage saying he’s not bringing anyone on stage.

He tells us remember the boy on the bike with no socks or shoes. Well he with his dog. Boy loves dog, dog loves boy. There was a storm before and there were puddles all around. The dog drinks water from one and get electrocuted. There are electric wires down. The boy is deviated but when he goes home no one notices the dog is not there. Tom makes a comment.

He talks about his girlfriend.

Thom says we are having a raffle to take out your ticket; you do have your tickets don’t you? He pulls out a paper then says forget about it, no raffle.

The title is so true. There is just one story after anotherwith segments of comments. There were times when it was interesting but overall it was boring. Nothing to keep you interested.

Michael C. Hall was remarkable. I liked that he made eye contact with the audience. One women in the second row said a person near her was snoring. She wondered if he heard it. Well if he did, he didn’t flinch.

This is one show I was disappointed with.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich.

Photos by Annazor.

To read a candid interview with Michael, scroll down to the left for photos. Click on photos for this and other shows.