Blue Box's New Musical, The Crow's Walk by Britt
Wilson and Grace Siplon Features Beautiful
Music, Skillful Acting, and Witty Dialogue

Each season, Blue Box Theatre Company offers "something old (a reimagined classic text)," "something new (a premiere of an original script)," "something borrowed (an adaptation)," and "something blue (an in-house event to thank and celebrate our company members)." Their current offering -- The Crow's Walk, an original musical -- is this year's "something new" production. It plays at various locations around the Research Triangle area over the next few weeks, and it is well worth attending.

Their promo states:

"The Crow's Walk is a new musical written by Britt Wilson [music] and Grace Siplon [book]. The music style is part pub-jam, part singer-songwriter.

"This two-person musical was first dreamed up by Grace Siplon in Edinburgh, Scotland, when she found a pub known for holding prisoners before their public executions. She couldn't get the idea of what The Condemned and The Executioner would talk about over a pint before the main event out of her head."

Blue Box has chosen small venues in which to present this work to modest-sized audiences, thereby creating a feeling of intimacy for the audience.

Let the record state that you will hear some beautiful music, see some skillful acting, and hear some witty dialogue, while witnessing the transformations of the characters. You will also have the opportunity to intuit some rather profound bits of wisdom pertaining to the human condition.

The Play:

We first meet "The Executioner" in a pub, where he explains to us the old custom of carrying out executions as public events (which were always well-attended and considered to be entertainment). He further relates a custom whereby he would spend an hour in conversation with "The Condemned" before proceeding. As expected, he is soon joined in the pub by The Condemned, who -- at first -- is quite bitter and has no interest in talking. Soon, however, they begin to bond over a few drinks; and the interaction eventually becomes therapeutic for both parties.

The Acting:

This pair of actors is, indeed, well-paired. Their timing is excellent, as is the connection between them, a chemistry that waxes and wanes to varying degrees. Both are strong singers, and their voices blend well in the vocal numbers.

Cameron Waters is surprisingly personable as The Executioner. His interactions "across the footlights," with individual audience members, are just as smooth as his in-the-world-of-the-play interactions with The Condemned. He is especially impressive during a segment in which he channels the personalities of prior condemned prisoners.

To evaluate the performance turned in by Missy Sullivan as The Condemned, one must consider this character's current situation. With that in mind, it is fair to say that Sullivan accurately (and impressively) hits some rather high (as well as low) points in the experience. To Sullivan's credit, there is nothing "sudden" about the character's transformation(s), but the overarching change is profound.

The Tech:

The show is performed with the acting area sharing the same lighting as the audience, thereby emphasizing the communal aspect of this theater experience.

No costume designer is credited, but The Executioner's all-black attire is quite fitting, and so is the peasant-like outfit sported by The Condemned.

Music director Britt Wilson, along with a few colleagues, recorded the soundtrack; and director Grace Siplon runs the soundboard.

Nice Touches:

• The duets! They are quite imaginative and well-executed.
• A pair of "period-looking" handcuffs.
• The "letters." (You will see what I mean.)
• The decision to serve drinks to the characters from the same bar as that from which audience members purchased their drinks.

Memorable Lines:

• "I ain't no Lucifer; I'm just an executioner."
• "A lot can be said in an hour, especially when you know it doesn't matter anymore."
• "That's the big fear -- dying alone."
• "I'm sure you say that to all your victims."
• "When I take a life, I carry it with me. I remember."
• "We'll be friends for the rest of your life."
• "Now that I know what I've lost, things could be different."

From the Department of Picky-Picky:

• They refer to having "a pint of beer," but they are served in 12-ounce glasses (that are only half full). I would have liked to see opaque, more "period-looking" mugs or, perhaps, beer steins.
• A song list -- either in the printed program or accessible via QR code -- would be nice.
• The volume of the music sometimes drowns out the lyrics of the songs.

The Bottom Line:

Although this play is set in a specific situation -- a situation that nobody nowadays will ever experience -- it is filled with profound insights into "the human condition" that are delivered with gentle humor.

This is the kind of show that you will want to attend with a good friend. Be sure to plan some time for discussing it afterwards (possibly "over a pint").

THE CROW'S WALK (In Person May 9th, 10th, and 17th), a new musical with music by Britt Wilson and book by Grace Siplon, directed by Grace Siplon, with music direction by Britt Wilson, and starring Cameron Waters as the Executioner and Missy Sullivan as the Condemned (Blue Box Theatre Company at various locations). TRAILERS: https://www.facebook.com/bbxtheatre/photos_albums. PRESENTER: https://www.blueboxtheatrecompany.org/, https://www.facebook.com/bbxtheatre, https://www.instagram.com/theblueboxtheatre/, and https://x.com/BBXTheatre. 2025 SEASON: https://www.blueboxtheatrecompany.org/currentseason. DATE/VENUE/TICKETS: 8 p.m. Friday, May 9th: BMC Brewing in Pittsboro (directions: https://bmcbrewing.com/visit/). TICKETS: $15 ($10 Members), plus taxes and fees. Click here to buy tickets. 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10th: Fair Game Beverage Co. in Pittsboro (directions: https://www.fairgamebeverage.com/contact). TICKETS: $15 ($10 Members), plus taxes and fees. Click here to buy tickets. 7 p.m. Saturday, May 17th: Captain John's Dockside Fish & Crab House in Chapel Hill (scroll down for directions: http://docksidechapelhill.com/). TICKETS: $15 ($10 Members), plus taxes and fees. Click here to buy tickets. INFORMATION: theblueboxtheatre@gmail.com. PLEASE DONATE TO: Blue Box Theatre Company.

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