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Downstatewants to make you sit in discomfort as long as possible and see what lies on the other side.
Bruce Norriss play takes for its subject the lives of sex offenders.
Dip your toe into empathy, but careful: The waters boiling.
The play begins with a confrontation, though its a carefully mediated one.
Fred, we soon learn, was Andys childhood piano teacher and abuser.
He keeps reminding Fred that he is fundamentally evil.
Dees a persuasive character, and you may be tempted to believe him.
But then do you believe he and a 14-year-old were in love?
There, he gets pedantic about the potential excesses of campaigns against predators and the idealization of victims.
it’s possible for you to see the playwrights game.
Downstateis better when its not trying to be of the moment.
Downstateis at Playwrights Horizons through January 7.
