You’re in Danger, written and performed by Lucius Robinson, is an absolute delight for those who enjoy creepy tales. Lucius commits fully to the role of middle-aged Mitchell Barnes, telling his neighborhood association that they have a changeling in their midst in the form of a local child. Robinson stretches and contorts as his weaves this story for the audience. He is so convincing in his performance that it is hard not to look when he points at some imaginary object that he’s describing.
The story itself is very well written. Eleanor Winston moves into Mitchell’s neighborhood with her son Denver, but Mitchell soon notices something strange about the boy. This play raises a very interesting question early on: Who do you tell when you see something so strange that the average person would not believe it? This is the challenge that confronts Mitchell Barnes throughout the work.
Robinson has done a good job of leaving enough room in the narrative for the audience to question whether Mitchell is a reliable source of information or a man whose strange obsession has gotten the best of him. The props and lighting for this performance are spot on and give the impression of being somewhere creepy, which is not at all hindered by the show taking place in the cavernous loft space of 322 Howard. This is where we watch Mitchell Barnes, who at one point transforms into TV host Donna, make his final commitment to rooting out the changeling.
Robinson pulls off suspense with flair. I found myself waiting for the twist. Was Mitchell the estranged father of Denver? Was this play really about the loss of a child? Did Mitchell Barnes have some deeper psychological issues? I believe Robinson played it straight, but it’s a credit to him that there is room for these types of interpretation. Perhaps this was just a creepy story. It definitely succeeds on that level.
You’re in Danger is one of the best one-man storytelling performances that I’ve ever seen. Lucius Robinson, by way of his character Mitchell Barnes, weaves a narrative that the audience won’t soon forget. By telling the story of a “menace from the other side,” Robinson encourages us to question how we confront the things that are just on the edge of reality and believability. I highly recommend You’re in Danger and look forward to seeing what stories Lucius Robinson will tell in the future.
Running Time: 45 minutes, with no intermission.
You’re in Danger plays through November 11, 2017, at the 322 Loft – 322 North Howard Street, in Baltimore, MD. Tickets and Charm City Fringe Festival buttons may be purchased at Fringe HQ (Le Mondo, 406 N Howard Street), the venue, or online.
Baltimore’s historic Lexington Market is joining DC Theater Arts in support of our coverage of the Charm City Fringe Festival. The Market closes at 6 PM on weekdays and is closed Sundays, but we recommend that Fringe-goers stop by on Saturday to grab lunch and take a look around, in addition to checking out the local bands which play from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
