‘Safe House’ by L.B. Browne – Upsetting and Worthy

By Alix Cohen

“…as political life grows more volatile, public trust erodes, and ideas that existed at the fringes move closer to the center of our everyday lives.” Playwright L.B. Browne

Rock (Marc Kudisch) is a conservative, middle aged army veteran who built DOD sites for 30 years. He’s now fanatically trying to turn the family basement into a bomb shelter. ‘Self-imposed deadline is an upcoming election.“They all laughed at Noah,” he snaps when wife Slipper (Karen Ziemba) makes a half hearted attempt to curb his obsession.The theater literally smells of woodworking. Forest Entsminger’s excellent set evokes foreboding, rather than a sense of security.

Older daughter Ashley (Anna Roman), living home at 27, has become as straight-laced a lawyer (and woman) as one can imagine.The younger Claire (Grace Church) disappeared a year ago with no explanation.

Both Slipper and Ashley notice Rock’s increasing memory losses, confusion, and mood changes. He angrily ignores the family doctor (Justin Lee Miller) and lives in denial. In fact, Rock is regularly visited by his deceased father, The General (Glenn Steven Allen), a bully butch right-winger and by Claire when she was an unhappy, rebellious little girl. (Julianna Layne) A wealth of deftly portrayed backstory emerges.

Claire’s return brings everything to a head. She desperately needs family help but is met instead with dangerous, punitive tactics.

Fear and disempowerment are insidious influences on much of our lives today. Many shut down (to tempered opinions) and strike out. Increase in xenophobia, hate crimes, paranoia, censorship and scapegoating pervade. Moral anemia is at pandemic levels.

L.B. Browne’s beautifully written, imaginative story is a fisheye view of consequences suffered by one family when radical, unchallenged certainty is imposed. The slow reveal is like peeling a bleeding onion.

Director Benjamin Viertel offers distinctively different characters with conviction. Actors listen to one another. The story unfurls by degrees; pacing is splendid. Credible, engaging use of the stage includes unique entrances and seeing through a wall. Tension is palpable.

Marc Kudisch sinks his teeth into the heart and mind of Rock, worrying manifestation, but never letting up. He’s remarkably, infuriatingly, mercurially real.

Karen Ziemba’s Slipper is an enabler first class, so tremulous, we don’t know whether to hug or vigorously shake her.

Anna Roman and Julianna Layne as Ashley and Claire present whole, multilayered personalities. Both actors offer solidly grounded work. As young Claire, Julianna Layne is palpably empathetic. Brava.

Costumes (ARTONE) appear walked-in-off-the-street appropriate.
Lighting (Mary Ellen Stebbins) and Sound (Liam Bellman-Sharpe) are skillfully crafted to manipulate audience response.

Photos by Viktorija Mickute

Safe House by L.B. Browne
Directed by Benjamin Viertel
Through September 13, 2026
Theatre Row 410 West 42nd Street
https://bfany.org/theatre-row/shows/safe-house/