An Outstanding ‘Men Without Shadows’
Reviewed by Kelly Monagham
Tribeca Trib

If you’ve ever suffered through a mediocre production of “No Exit” you may have sworn off Jean-Paul Sartre forever. But don’t let that stop you from seeing the breathtaking revival of “Men Without Shadows” currently being presented by Horizon Theatre Rep at The Flea.

This seldom seen gem (its last New York production was in 1948) is perhaps the most accessible of Sartre’s plays. Dense with ideas and filled with the sort of philosophical arguments that give modern French theater a bad reputation in the land of freedom fries, it is nonetheless a ripping yarn that packs a visceral wallop. You may not fully understand existentialism after seeing this play, but you’ll be able to fake it.

Be forewarned, though. This is strong stuff. Rounding up the usual adjectives like gripping, searing, and gut-wrenching doesn’t begin to convey the power of this evening of theater. In the waning days of Vichy France, five Resistance fighters await torture and death at the hands of functionaries who are veritable poster children for the banality of evil. When their leader is temporarily detained while his airtight cover is checked out, things really get ugly. In the face of pain and rape, moral certainties become provisional and notions of love, comradeship, and family take on chilling new meanings in the hideous circumstances of their last few hours.

It’s hard to tell which was tinier, space or budget, but director Simon Hammerstein works wonders with both. He has forged a taut ensemble from a talented cast, orchestrating an almost unbearable tension. This play and this production deserve to be seen.