Ruby Wilder

Description
Much of Brooke Allen's new drama could have been lifted from some forgettable made-for-television Tracey Gold vehicle: Spunky Ruby Wilder and her heroin-addicted sister, Junebug, are held captive in a tiny shack by a serial killer. But Allen's play distinguishes itself in its structure. The playwright lands on the ingenious device of telling all three strands of Ruby's story—beginning, middle and end—at once. With these touches, she intelligently explores the fluidity of storytelling itself. Unfortunately, Allen's staging lacks the precision and nuance her own script requires. Ultimately, it's a case of a good story only passably told.—ZT