RED SPEEDO by Carol Kaufman Segal

            By its title, you might expect that this play has something to do with swimming. Written by Lucas Hnath, it is about Ray (Adam Peltiera), a competitor swimmer who has finally made it to the Olympics and a possible lucrative deal with Speedo.  Ray has devoted his entire life to swimming and appears to have a less than C average when it comes to smarts.  Not at all like his attorney brother Peter (Coronada Romero).

            Ray is experiencing a desperate moment in his life at this time knowing he may not excel in the Oympics.  You see, Ray is a dope addict, and the only way he knows he can win is if he is on dope.  Since dope was found in the locker room, his coach (Jason E. Kelley) is obligated to report the finding and the fact that the stash belongs to Ray. Being the shyster lawyer that he is, Peter tries a scare tactic on coach telling him how much his business has to gain with an Olympic winner and how much he has to lose with bad publicity about dope being found in his locker room.   

            Red Speedo is about the ambitions of all of the characters involved in the play, including Lydia (Kimberly Alexander), Ray’s supplier girlfriend.  The play does not offer audiences the opportunity to feel empathy for any of the characters involved since each of them has a corrupt personality.  Unfortunately, the fine direction by Joe Banno, good performances by a group of actors, and the neat scenic design with a pool by Stephen Gilford,  is wasted on an unworthy play.    

            Red Speedo plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, at The Road on Magnolia, 10747 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood.  Tickets are available online at www.roadtheatre.org, or by phone at (818) 761-8838.