I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre for the opening night of “The Whipping Man.” I knew the show was about faith and race in the wake of the Civil War, not the cheeriest of topics. I also knew, after talking with the cast and director, that this show was humorous and sometimes even lighthearted, or so they assured me.
Still, walking into the theater, the set emanates an overwhelming sense of emptiness, the bombed-out remains of a home, the ragged hollow of a life long lost. It’s difficult to imagine any happiness in this place.
The story begins with Confederate soldier Caleb DeLeon, played by Ryan Barry, stumbling into his Richmond, Virginia, house, destitute and badly wounded. Despite walking through his own front door, he doesn’t recognize the rubble to which it has been reduced. The house is deserted but for one: Simon, a former slave of the Jewish DeLeon family, portrayed by Michael A. Shepperd.
As he begins to explain how the house was damaged and how the rest of the DeLeon family fled Richmond for safety, Simon is… funny. He makes jokes and cheeky comments. The first time the audiences laughs, it’s an unsure and nervous sound, but it doesn’t take long to shake the unease as they settle into the rhythm of the banter.
When another of the DeLeon’s former slaves, John, comes onto the scene, he introduces a whole new tone to the atmosphere. Played by Damian Thompson, John is vibrant and witty, his surprising playfulness making for a spoonful of sugar for the harsh medicinal truth of their circumstances.
And with that, you’re introduced to the entire cast. The whole show consists of these three men existing in one room, stewing in a cloud of high emotion fused with the uncertainty of how to move forward in a world they don’t recognize.
As the story unfolds, years of secrets and regrets and grudges are peeled back, exposing the raw flesh of these men. We watch them writhe in their pain and grief, watch them coalesce the faith they claim with the horrors they’ve known.
Throughout the show, Barry, Shepperd and Thompson create an unmatched balance. Your heart aches for them, you feel their relational struggle, and yet, you still laugh with them. Their performance runs the gamut of the human experience, from heart pounding anxiety and the trenches of anguish to abraded tenderness and bright-eyed hope.
A far cry from the lollipops and gumdrops of “Elf the Musical,” “The Whipping Man” is anything but sparkly. But even in the face of overwhelming emptiness, this show asks the question: How will you fill the hollow?
This and many more questions await you at The Rep’s production of “The Whipping Man.” The show runs until Feb. 8. For showtimes and more information about the play, or to purchase tickets online, visit The Rep’s website. You can also call (501) 378-0405 or visit the theater box office downtown at 601 Main St., Little Rock.