Chill Factor

In British playwright Bryony Lavery’s hit play, Frozen, a child killer, the mother of one of his victims, and a researcher grapple with their emotionally troubled psyches. “They’re all trying to understand what happened,” says Sarah May, who directs the production, opening at the Beck Center tonight. “All three characters are psychologically locked. They try to come to terms with grief, mourning, and hope.”

The work is pretty much an actor’s showcase. The action is set on an uncluttered stage that keeps the focus on the three leads’ performances. Frozen is about moving on, but May says she’s not so sure she could, were she in similar circumstances. “He’s not a very sympathetic serial killer,” she says. “But he does have his charm.” The play spurs many questions but provides few answers. Eventually, the drama brings up themes like forgiveness, but audience members may not agree with all of the onstage absolution. May hopes the discussions spill outside the Beck. “I really like it when the lights go up and people talk, and they keep talking,” she says. “I love theater that prompts this.”
Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m. Starts: June 1. Continues through June 24