New Conservatory Theatre Center production of "Laramie Project:Ten Years Later"

Ten years ago Matthew Shepard was murdered in Laramie Wyoming and it was a homophobic crime in this what some people called a “red neck” community. Tectonic Theatre Company did a splendid documentary stage drama called “The Laramie Project” soon after the killing. Tens of millions of people in countless professional and school productions have seen the drama since it opened in 2000.

Moise Kaufman and the New York based Tectonic Theatre Project returned to the town ten years later that has become famous for a tragedy many of its citizens would like to forget. This is stark and often-moving production is now playing at the New Conservatory Theatre under the direction of Sara Staley with a superb cast of actors playing various roles in this intriguing two hour drama.

The group had found that Laramie had to face its ugliest hours once again. The citizens blame outsiders with their special agenda for stirring up bad memories for preventing the town from putting its pain behind them. They blame HBO for a movie about the murder that made the city world infamous. Many believe it was not a homophobic murder but a drug deal gone badly, a view reinforced by ABC “20/20” special in 2004. However Reggie Fluty (Natasha Noel) the now retired police officer who was the first cop on the brutal scene, remains haunted by what she saw and frustrated at the slow pace of progress on gay issues.

What has emerge in the penetrating and detailed performances of the eight members of the ensemble who all play multiple roles is a sense of misperception and sorrow, tempered with civic pride in the incremental changes that have occurred. One resident point out the city now has “Drag queen bingo AIDS benefit and an AIDS walk once a year.

The earnestness of the cast lets the material speak for itself that portray the authors and those they interview. Alex Hero who plays many parts is excellent as killer Russell Henderson who gives a poignant performance describing his mother’s death under similar circumstances. (His mother was brutally raped and murdered in Laramie).

Sal Matto’s performance as the other hard edged killer Greg Pierotti gives a frightening performance in an interview. This Nazi sympathizer in his interview he all but admits it was hate crime. (He is more upset that the prison T.V. only gets ten channels).

Sal Mattos and Timothy Beagley are potent as the officers who probed the murder have no kind words for the ABC “20/20” documentary. The show’s malevolent effects pervade the mass denials encountered by many of the citizens played by Diana Brown, Patrick Barresi and Chris Quintos. Heidi Wolff gives a poignant performance as the mother of slain Matthew Shepard. She also conveys the triumph of Catherine Connelly, elected as Wyoming’s first openly gay state legislator who along with a conservative Republican defeats the homophobic Defense of Marriage Act in Wyoming.

“Laramie Project:Ten Years Later” provides a powerful cautionary tale that rises to the occasion. Even though Laramie still has denial it has change the town forever and the nation as a whole.

Tectonic and New Conservatory Theatre Center triumph is to try to dig some good out of unfathomable evil. They deserve kudos for speaking so much truth to hate.

“Laramie Project: Ten Years Later” plays through April 29 at the New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Ave. San Francisco. For tickets call 415-861-8972 or on line at www.nctcsf.org. Follow this the NCTC’s Pride on Tour will take the LGBT-themed shows to rural communities such as Grass Valley, Fairfield, Modesto and Fresno in June.