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Honor Bound

Theatre Review by Howard Miller


Ross DeGraw and Justin R. G. Holcomb.
Photo by Carol Rosegg.
Newcomer playwright Albert J. Repicci's Honor Bound, now on view at St. Luke's Theatre, raises important ideas about trust, friendship, and—of course—honor, but it does tend to lose its way through a credibility-stretching plot that meanders toward its uplifting ending in the course of two hours and 14 scenes.

The play takes place in the early 1990s, when Lisa (Nicole M. Carroll), an overeager intern reporter longing to break into the big time, finds herself stuck with the assignment of covering local Memorial Day events for the Glenville (Connecticut) Tribune. Looking for a new angle, she decides to do some hard-nosed investigative digging into a Vietnam War-era incident involving a highly regarded retired physician named Jack (Ross DeGraw) and the Tribune's editor Peter (Justin R. G. Holcomb). The incident happened two decades previously, at a time when Jack and Peter were close friends. They haven't spoken since, but something has weighed heavily on both of them for all these years.

Much of the play is focused on Lisa's efforts to learn what happened so she can write an exposé before returning to her life as a Columbia University journalism student. Her prying unleashes a flood of anxiety in Jack, and his supportive wife Kay (Christine Marie Heath) and long-time family friend Irwin (Anthony Laciura) grow increasingly concerned for Jack's emotional stability. In the end, Lisa learns a hard lesson about failing to sort out the truth from rumors and the impact of inept prying and rumormongering on the lives of others.

Throughout the play, the cast of five brings as much authenticity to their roles as they can, but unfortunately, the "big reveal" does not justify the long and choppy journey it takes to get there.


Honor Bound
Through September 26
St. Luke's Theatre, 308 West 46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues
Tickets online and current Performance Schedule: Telecharge