STAGE REVIEWS : CRIME IN THE RUBBLE OF NUCLEAR WAR

Tony Barsha’s “Testimonies of a Rape and Killing” transposes “Rashomon” to America in the rubble of a nuclear war. We see four varied accounts of a crime involving a couple (Douglas Yanez and Virginia Lantry) from the Protected Zone, who encounter a bandit (Mark Del Castillo Morante) in the Devastated Zone.

Previous versions of the story included other characters as commentators. In “Testimonies,” the only observer is a scavenger (Rob Munroe). The change constricts the material, especially as the scavenger spends too much time muttering incoherent digressions from the matters at hand.

Perhaps to compensate for the reduced cast, Barsha assigned greater polemic responsibility to his three central characters. In earlier editions, the rape was barely depicted; here, it’s graphically enacted four times (including one in which the wife more or less rapes the bandit) in order to make points about contemporary attitudes toward rape and sexuality.

Barsha also makes points about the rape of the Earth. As the characters aren’t trustworthy, perhaps we shouldn’t take their arguments seriously. But the speeches add clutter, smudging the original’s focus on the nature of truth.

Barsha’s staging features diligent, demanding work by the cast and musician Bobbo Staron.

Performances are at the Boyd St. Theater, 301 Boyd St., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., through Oct. 3. Tickets: $9.50; (213) 629-2205.