Ripe Frenzy , New Repertory Theatre and Boston Center for American Performance, Boston University Fine Arts College Studio, through March 11.617-923-8487 or newrep.org
Tavistown may become as iconic in "Ripe Frenzy" as Grover's Corners in the now classic "Our Town"(1938). In fact, Jennifer Barclay's rolling world premiere-a visceral and powerfully disturbing co-production by New Repertory Theatre and Boston Center for American Performance at the Boston University College of Fine Arts Studio One-begins with a mother's monologue that compares favorably with the opening exposition by Stage Manager in Wilder's play.
To make the affinity even stronger, the fictional upstate New York community's high school theater holds a Guinness Book record of nearly 40 full productions of "Our Town." Thanks to director Bridget Kathleen O'Leary's clever staging, the ties to Wilder's play greet audience members in the form of made-up wall posters for those productions that line the entrance to the actual Boston University theater space.
If both plays examine Main Street America through the microcosm of an everyday town, "Ripe Frenzy'' finds its own hauntingly dark ambience and finish.
Town historian Zoe, the mother in question, details the preparation for what was going to be a 'groundbreaking' high school production of ''Our Town.'' At the same time, she tellingly reveals that the theater space will soon be 'rubbish.' A growing number of ominous elements will gradually lead up to a local 'incident.'
As audience members peer at the initial set-up for the 2017-set high school theater, they will notice that the set is divided for the two key ''Our Town'' families-Gibbs and Webb-as well as Main Street and the Graveyard-the last curiously downstage.
Attentive theatergoers will note that the setting indications say that "Time is slippery here"-a slippery timing that will revolve around a shooting impacting the production itself. Most telling of all, mothers and their children alike take note of new school shootings on their phones with a regularity as 'normal' as media coverage of AR-15 killings.
Hovering over the community is a precarious sense of security as residents worry about a killer named Brian James McNamara and seem obsessed with images of him on their phones.
Wilder buffs will remember that Simon Stimson's alcoholism is about as serious an issue as one finds in ''Our Time.'' By contrast, school shootings have become the sadly all too familiar problem for the characters of ''Ripe Frenzy'' and by extension for all Americans (with director O'Leary mentioning the 17 school shootings this year even before Parkland).
Still, the people of Tavistown are determined to remain strongly connected. Zoe and her best friends Miriam and Felicia see themselves as undaunted as the Three Musketeers. Miriam's daughter and Felicia's son seem to act like a couple.
Particularly telling is the status of Zoe's unseen son. The proud mother praises her son's talent as a photographer. Thanks to Jared Mezzocchi's brilliant projection design, theatergoers have a chance to view both stirring landscape shots--for example, a majestic local mountain-and grim ones. Positivist Zoe unsurprisingly asks her son to refrain from displaying the latter.
Indeed, every unexpected door rattle startles her. Could McNamara be lurking outside in the shadows? Also, what is the full story about Zoe's son? "Ripe Frenzy" sub-textually suggests that the children lack enough quality time with their fathers. Could the absence of positive male role models have a negative effect on young men like McNamara?
Barclay's play does reach a striking resolution, one that will have audience members reflecting on the characters' priorities and their own.
Under O'Leary's tight direction, cast members are equally striking. Veronica Duerr is a standout in the challenging role of Zoe. Duerr has all of Zoe's stage manager-like attention to both hopeful and uncertain phenomena in Tavistown and captures her warmth with Miriam and Felicia.
Stacy Fischer catches Miriam's tenacity as play director and her emotional push and pull with both adults and students. Samantha Richert finds lesbian surgeon Felicia's elegance as well as her directness. Henry B. Gardner as somewhat reserved Matt and Reilly Anspaugh as attitude-rich Hadley make a very convincing young couple. David Orlando's smart lighting enhances moments of mystery as well as clarity.
"Ripe Frenzy'' vividly depicts an America both similar to and different from that of ''Our Town''-one in which friends and family come together for understanding but also pull away with fear and technological distance.
Authority Barclay is a rich young voice that Wilder would admire. Her play, as staged by New Rep and BCAP, makes her vision a must-see response to the cold, violence-condoning posture of the NRA and the president who brandishes its propaganda.