Bill Burke in The Details. Photo courtesy of First Run Theatre.
First Run Theatre Company—St. Louis’s home for never-before-seen plays from the Midwest—just wrapped up another successful run at the Kranzberg Black Box Theater in Grand Center. This summer’s main stage show was a one-act play by James Larson titled The Details, which takes its name from a Hemingway quote: “Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.”
The story follows Jackson (Jaz Tucker) and Mr. Hoffman (Bill Burke), two next-door neighbors who have never spoken before this night. Jackson, a young father who installs cable and internet for a living, enters Hoffman’s house late at night, startling him. Hoffman mistakes Jackson for an intruder and threatens to call the police, but Jackson explains he’s been locked out. As the night goes on, Jackson opens up about his drinking and troubled marriage. To Hoffman, that’s nothing compared to the loss of his wife of sixty years. His friends have all died or moved away, and he can’t imagine that the world has anything good in store for him. The two men begin to stack their problems side by side, competing to see who has it worse. The conversation soon becomes one of the most important of their lives.
Tucker and Burke are the first to bring these roles to the stage. Burke is well cast as Hoffman, playing him as reserved, lonely, and uneasy about the changes in his neighborhood. Though old-fashioned and somewhat prejudiced, he comes across as authentic and layered. Tucker’s Jackson is friendly and folksy, but weighed down by his personal struggles. The two actors work well together, delivering candid observations about race, gender, and personal failure. By the finale, the men develop an unlikely friendship and try to convince one another that life is worth living.
First Run makes smart use of Kranzberg’s small black box setting. Audience members sit just a few feet from the performers, which suits a dialogue-heavy play like this. The set is simple but effective: a suburban living room with a couch, bookshelf, liquor cabinet, front door, and an “upstairs” area that creates a sense of depth. Costumes are realistic and understated—Hoffman in a sweater and slacks, Jackson in his work uniform. The show does not use music, which draws attention to the dialogue. There were minor microphone issues, including some feedback, but the actors could be clearly heard.
The Details is a grounded story about loneliness, grief, and finding purpose in life. It deals directly with race and gender in ways that feel honest and unforced. Despite its heavy subject matter, it ends on an optimistic note, suggesting that real change is possible for two flawed but well-meaning people. It’s another example of First Run’s strength: strong writing, close-up performances, and stories that connect to real Midwestern life. Its small cast and minimal staging make it well-suited to other independent theater companies.
Next up for First Run is Amy Hanson’s The Deposition, described on the company’s website as “a divorce deposition that forces Jackson Fields to reflect on his years of infidelity and predatory behavior.” Given the quality of The Details, it looks like another production to watch for when performances start this November. | Rob Von Nordheim
For the latest information on upcoming performances, visit firstruntheatre.org.
