THEATER REVIEWS : ‘Valiant’ Locked in Another Era; No Reprieve in Execution

It seems strange that anyone would want to revive Holworthy Hall and Robert Middlemass’ one-act “The Valiant.” The fact that it is more than half a century old doesn’t matter. What does is the dated quality, not only of the plot, but of the writing, which smacks of Saturday morning movie serials. And the production at the Ensemble Theatre doesn’t correct any of the flaws in the work.

James Dyke is ready for his execution, but the prison warden and the house priest want to know more about him. Dyke is not his real name. He has confessed to killing a man but won’t say why, nor will he give out any information about his identity or background.

He’s the most generic prisoner ever to grace Death Row. It’s a gimmick typical of the pseudo-universal ‘30s and ‘40s, particularly in radio anthologies, on which this playlet made numerous appearances.

The play’s dependence on coincidental action is also of another day.

Half an hour before Dyke’s execution, the state’s governor calls; a young woman has contacted him because she thinks Dyke might be her long-lost older brother. Would the warden please hold the execution until she gets there?

Of course he would, because he can spend the time quizzing Dyke. But even back then, a warden wouldn’t invite a condemned man into his office for chitchat on his way to eternity.

Director Michael Aquila, who plays the prisoner with the stoicism of petrified wood, barely skims the surface of the script and never bothers to look for any intricacy or dramatic subtext that might flesh out the skeletal writing.

*

The other actors don’t dig too deeply either, but their readings are lucid if not rounded. David Brochey’s Warden is energized, which is an actor’s best shot for survival as the role is written. John Suttle’s Chaplain is pretty washed-out and bland, and Steve Scholl’s Jailer is as stiff and simplistically empty as a stele.

Heather Smith is interesting as the Girl, almost rising above a script that revels in such lines as: “The valiant never taste of death but once.”

* “The Valiant,” Ensemble Theatre, 844 E. Lincoln Ave., Suite E, Orange. Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m. Ends Nov. 18. $12 to $15. (714) 998-2670. Running time: 50 minutes.

Michael Aquila: The Prisoner

David Brochey: The Warden

Heather Smith: The Girl

John Suttle: The Chaplain

Steve Scholl: The Jailer

An Eastern Boys Company production of the one-act by Holworthy Hall and Robert Middlemass. Directed by Michael Aquila. Lighting and sound: Pat.