STAGE REVIEW : Two Strong Actors Bring ‘Killin’ Time’ to Life

What’s it like on Death Row? Well, it’s kind of dull. After all, you’re just “Killin’ Time.”

In Jon Nerenberg’s confrontational drama at the McCadden Place Theatre, Charles Williamson knows about being bored. Sure, he’s got the law books he’s turned inside out to help his lawyers find a loophole, he’s got his workouts, but that isn’t what life’s all about. At least, Charles’ life.

Suddenly he finds himself with a pen pal who can offer him more, who winds up on the other side of the screen in the visitors’ room fretting and fussing over Charles’ sealed fate. Nick thinks demonstrating against the death penalty will help, but Charles knows “there’s nothing worse than a white liberal.” But Nick keeps coming back. “Don’t go wiping your conscience in my drawers,” he grumbles to the kid.

What Charles wants from Nick is a little piece of the action from outside, letters and erotic photos from Nick’s girlfriend Karen and his blonde friend Riki from Holland. Charles and Nick are approaching Charles’ salvation from opposite directions and only rarely do they pass each other as they try to find it.

The play could be cut by about half an hour with ease, but the performances and Stephan Yarian’s direction make it worth the extra time we spend with this star-crossed pair. Yarian never lets his actors stray from the through-line of the dialogue--the game is what counts and Yarian keeps both sides struggling for supremacy.

Felton Perry gives one of his best performances as Charles, wise and woolly, sure of his perks on Death Row and aching for one more titillating taste of the world he left behind. His opposite number, Nick, is etched with fine detail and a frightening darkness behind his banner-bearing facade by Gordon Chavis.

Perry’s Charles has heard it all before, and Chavis’ Nick thinks he’s just discovered injustice. The actors get inside their characters and illuminate the gears and levers that make them tick. Shashawnee Hall has a couple of good scenes as the understanding guard, Sgt. Earle. His relaxed underplaying works to his advantage.

Yarian’s physical staging of the fairly static action could be a bit more inventive (he isn’t aided by Ron Ranft’s simplistic setting), but Aliza Silverman’s lights and sound help. “Killin’ Time” comes alive because of the intricate performances of two strong actors. And it’s a joy to watch them work.

At 1157 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood; Thursdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Ends May 13. $10; (213) 396-2653.