A Public Fit brings British basement drama to Las Vegas

A Public Fit Theatre will present the North American premiere of Talk Show at the SST Studio Theater. The production runs from November 13 through November 16 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost between $35 and $45. This marks the first mainstage production for the company's 13th season.

The play was written by British playwright Alistair McDowall and is set in 2012. It centers on Sam, a young man who hosts a nightly internet talk show from the cramped basement of his family home in North East England. Sam believes he is a modern-day David Letterman. He is dapper and sharp-witted on air, but his show has not gained wide popularity. He hosts to a consistent audience of eight people.

Director Breon Jenay and co-director Jake Staley selected the script for its focus on isolation. Jenay described Sam as a character who fails to find connection within his family dynamics while attempting to provide comfort to others. She noted that Sam may be delusional about growing his audience but does not believe he is fundamentally wrong in his approach. The production features an all-male cast.

Austin Parrales plays Sam. Wilam Tarris plays Sam's jobless father, who rarely speaks to him outside of brief comments on a baby monitor. Ryan Ruckman plays Jonah, Sam's long-lost uncle who enters the story by coming through a window. The arrival of Jonah forces the family to confront their dysfunction.

The set is designed to feel authentic and lived-in. A live snake appears on stage during one interview segment. Staley said a live snake trumps the naturalism of dogs or babies often used in theater. Jenay said the real snake helps maintain a naturalistic feeling that makes the audience feel like they are eavesdropping on the family. Any element that breaks this realism takes viewers out of the moment.

The production highlights the difficulty of communication within a single household. Staley and Jenay noted that the play reflects modern reliance on the internet for human connection. Jenay said the play felt like a mirror held up to her own family dynamics. She hopes audience members feel a similar catharsis and feel motivated to connect more deeply with their own family members.

The performance takes place at Studio 3, located at 4340 S. Valley View Blvd. #210. More information is available at apublicfit.org.