Etched inSkin on a Sunlit Night

Olafur, Jonsi, Jules

InterAct Theatre located at 2030 Sansom Streets is presenting  the World Premiere  of Etched in Skin on a Sunlit Night through June 24.This brilliant piece of theatre has intricately woven plots and subplots that keep the audience glued to the edge of their seats.. Just when the story line seems  somewhat clear, one more layer of the onion is peeled away to display yet another picture of Jules, the artist in question and the pictures she is giving birth  to... Phyllis Johnson, portrays Jules a black expatriot American who has fled to Iceland to make a new life for herself. Johnson does an outstanding  job as Jules is mired down in three conflicts.. with her husband Olafur, portrayed by Ian Bedford, with Warton, another black American visiting Iceland who is portrayed by Akeem Davis and most acutely with herself, as is sometimes is shown by an alter ego Jonsi, portrayed by Jared McLenigan.  Warton and Jules are both hiding secrets that they only share with each other and Olafur has secrets of his own which are known only by the man in the street. Thrown into the mix is the innocence of an 8 year old , beautiful and talented Aria Jones who portrays Kina, the biracial daughter of Olafur and Jules. This outstanding production asks more questions than it answers. Why would a white father give his biracial daughter a book that clearly denigrates blacks? And why, if he had no prejudice at all as he claimed, would he ask the question, “Why would I marry a black woman in a white country like Iceland if were prejudiced?” It made me wonder why that question would even enter his head. And of all the characters, who had the most to atone for and would it make a difference in their lives once the truth was known. Most playwrights tie up all the loose ends very nicely by the end of their work.  Kara Lee Corthron  leaves you thirsting for more. For tickets or further information visit online at  wwww.InterActTheatre.org. or  call 215-568-8079.