‘The Outsider’ @ Allen Contemporary Theatre
Photos by John Mead
—Carol M. Rice
In many circles these days, “politics” is a dirty word, so playwright Paul Slade Smith took quite a chance when he wrote The Outsider, a new play—a comedy, no less—about politics. The result, I’m happy to say, is a nonpartisan romp (playing through May 18 at Allen Contemporary Theatre) that will leave your sides aching from laughter, even as it makes you think.
In a small unnamed state, the charismatic Governor has just been ousted for sexual misconduct, leaving the brilliant yet extremely shy Lt. Governor in place. “Shy” is a gross understatement, as Ned Newley turns into a blabbering idiot when a camera is pointed at him, and can’t string three words together. His competent, lone employee Dave Riley now has a new job: keep the other side from deeming the new Governor incompetent and somehow keep him in office.
As Dave, Ryan Maffei is the glue that holds not only the Governor’s office but also this play together. He is nerdy and anxious and hyper (yet can soften when necessary) and has amazing physicality and facial expressions. As a political behind-the-scenes “Everyman,” Dave’s loyalty to the Governor is completely convincing, and Maffei’s range of emotions is phenomenal.
David Kelton’s wide-eyed hysteria as Ned is hilarious, as he completely freaks out about his new public duties. He occasionally sounds so quiet and timid that he’s hard to understand, but Ned’s character arc goes from being frightened of his own shadow to having confidence in his ability to actually be the Governor. It’s a believable transformation, and one we can all cheer for.
Michael Miller brings smarmy car salesman vibes to the role of Arthur Vance, who’s been brought in to give Ned a political makeover. He knows what the public wants and has no qualms about making it happen, no matter who he has to squash in the process. Miller makes this look easy as he cavorts around the stage with maniacal glee.
Kya “KJ” James perfectly portrays Louise Peakes, the most inept yet confident temp worker on the planet. Louise is the kind of person who introduces herself every time she sees you and truly has no concept that she’s done it before. (It’s no accident that the character’s nickname is Lulu.) James commits to this clueless bravado with every fiber of her being—and while we laugh nonstop at her antics, there’s that nagging little voice in the back of our heads wondering if she really is “just like us.”
As pollster Paige Caldwell, the other of Dave’s new hires at the Governor’s mansion, Katie O’Brien is the exact person you would call in a crisis: calm, controlled, knowledgeable, and with connections, no less! O’Brien’s take on Paige is spot-on: she knows how to take control and make Dave relax, even for a few moments. She has excellent chemistry with both Maffei and Miller.
As TV anchor Rachel Parsons, Rashae Boyd appears put-together but is frustrated at being a political mouthpiece instead of a real journalist. She brings a grounded-ness to the proceedings, despite being attracted to Dave. Boyd’s almost schizophrenic ups and downs as she tries to figure out what she really wants to do are lots fun to watch.
Pete Thompson gives the gruff, mostly silent A.C. Peterson some real humanity. I wish I could have seen more of his face during some of the poignant moments; facing partially upstage while wearing a baseball cap makes us lose some of his great character work.
Director Chris Berthelot (who also acts as set designer) has put together a fabulous ensemble cast. What truly makes this show work is that nobody is playing for laughs, which means they get a lot of them. And while this has a somewhat different meaning after seeing the play, they are all totally real. (You’ll get this when you go see it.)
The Outsider is one of those plays that might seem a little scary if you don’t know anything about it (a comedy about politics???) but Allen Contemporary Theatre’s riotous, solid production deserves to be seen. It is a roller coaster of insanity with deep meaning and (dare I say it?) heart. No matter who you vote for—or if you don’t vote at all—you need to go see this show!
WHEN: May 2-18, 2025
WHERE: ACT, 1210 E. Main Street, Suite 300, Allen TX
WEB: allencontemporarytheatre.net
